वयं च धिक्कृताः सर्वे बलिभी राजसेवकैः । अत्र प्रमाणं भगवानिति कर्तव्य तां प्रति
We have all been disgraced by the powerful royal servants; in this matter, the Lord must be regarded as the authority.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तेषां शत्रुघ्नः कुपितो भृशम् । दशन्रोषात्स्वदशनाञ्जिह्वया लेलिहन्मुहुः
Hearing their words, Shatrughna became intensely angry, repeatedly licking his own teeth with his tongue out of fury.
उवाच वीरो मद्वाहं हृत्वा कुत्र गमिष्यसि । इदानीं पातये बाणैः पुरंजनसमन्वितम्
The hero spoke: 'Where will you go after taking my mount? Now I shall strike down the city, along with its inhabitants, with arrows.'
इत्युक्त्वा सुमतिं प्राह कस्येदं पुटभेदनम् । को वर्ततेऽस्याधिपतिर्यो मे वाहमजीहरत्
Having said this, he addressed Sumati: 'Whose is this breaking open of the enclosure? Who is the lord here, who has taken my mount?'
शेष उवाच। इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य भूपतेः कोपसंयुतम् । जगाद मंत्री सुगिरा स्फुटाक्षरसमन्वितम्
Shesha said: Hearing these words, filled with the king's anger, the minister replied in clear, well-articulated speech.
विद्धीदं कुंडलं नाम नगरं सुमनोहरम् । अस्मिन्वसति धर्मात्मा सुरथः क्षत्त्रियो बली
Know that this is the city called Kundala, exceedingly beautiful; here dwells Suratha, a powerful Kshatriya devoted to righteousness.
नित्यं धर्मपरो रामचरणद्वंद्वसेवकः । मनसा कर्मणा वाचा हनूमानिव सेवकः
Always devoted to dharma, serving the feet of Rama; with mind, action, and speech, he is a servant like Hanuman.
चरितान्यस्य शतशो वर्तंते धर्मकारिणः । महाबलपरीवारः सुरथः सर्वशोभनः
His righteous deeds are counted by the hundreds; Suratha, surrounded by great strength, is entirely splendid.
महद्युद्धं भवेदत्र हृतश्चेद्वाहसत्तमः । अनेके प्रपतिष्यंति वीरा रणविशारदाः
A great battle will occur here if the excellent mount is taken; many skilled warriors will fall in combat.
एवमुक्तं समाश्रुत्य शत्रुघ्नः सचिवं प्रति । उवाच पुनरप्येवं वचनं वदतां वरः
Hearing this, Shatrughna addressed the minister again, the best among speakers, and spoke further words.
शत्रुघ्न उवाच। कथमत्र प्रकर्तव्यं रामाश्वोऽनेन चेद्धृतः । नायाति योद्धुं प्रबलं कटकं वीरसेवितम्
Shatrughna said: 'How should we proceed here, if Rama's horse has been taken by him? He does not come to fight the powerful army attended by heroes.'
सुमतिरुवाच। दूतः प्रेष्यो महाराज राजानं प्रति वाग्मिकः । यद्वाक्येन समायाति बलेन बलिनां वरः
Sumati said: 'A messenger skilled in speech should be sent, O great king, to the ruler; by his words, or by force, the strongest among the strong will come.'
नोचेदज्ञानतो वाहो धृतः केनापि मानिना । अर्पयिष्यति नः साधुमश्वं क्रतुवरं शुभम्
Otherwise, if the mount was taken unknowingly by some proud person, he will return to us the noble, auspicious horse, the best for the sacrifice.
इति श्रुत्वातु तद्वाक्यं शत्रुघ्नो बुद्धिमान्बली । अंगदं प्रत्युवाचेदं वचनं विनयान्वितम्
Hearing these words, Shatrughna, wise and strong, addressed Angada with words imbued with humility.
शत्रुघ्न उवाच। याहि त्वं निकटस्थे वै सुरथस्य महापुरे । दूतत्वेन ततो गत्वा प्रब्रूहि नृपतिं प्रति
Shatrughna said: 'Go to the great city of Suratha, which is nearby; go as a messenger and speak to the king.'
त्वया धृतो रामवाहो ज्ञानतोऽज्ञानतोपि वा । अर्पयतु न वा यातु प्रधनं वीरसंयुतम्
'Whether the horse of Rama was taken by you knowingly or unknowingly, let him either return it to us or come forth with his band of heroes.'
रामस्य दौत्यं लंकायां रावणं प्रति यत्कृतम् । तथैव कुरु भूयिष्ठ बलसंयुतबुद्धिमन्
'Just as you carried out Rama's embassy to Ravana in Lanka, so now do likewise, with utmost strength and intelligence.'
शेष उवाच। एतच्छ्रुत्वांगदो वीर ओमिति प्रोच्य भूमिपम् । जगाम संसदो मध्ये वीरश्रेणिसमन्विते
Shesha said: Hearing this, Angada, the hero, replied 'Om' to the king, and went into the midst of the assembly, accompanied by a band of warriors.
ददर्श सुरथं भूपं तुलसीमंजरीधरम् । रामभद्रं रसनया ब्रुवंतं सेवकान्निजान्
He saw King Suratha, adorned with a garland of tulasī flowers, speaking with his tongue to his own attendants about Rāma.
राजापि दृष्ट्वा प्लवगं मनोहरवपुर्धरम् । शत्रुघ्नदूतं मत्वापि वालिजं प्रत्यभाषत
The king, seeing the monkey with a captivating form, though thinking him to be Śatrughna's messenger, addressed Vāli's son.
सुरथ उवाच। प्लवगाधिप कस्मात्त्वमागतोऽत्र कथं भवान् । ब्रूहि मे कारणं सर्वं यथा ज्ञात्वा करोमि तत्
Suratha said: O lord of monkeys, for what reason have you come here? Tell me everything, so that, knowing it, I may act accordingly.
शेष उवाच। इति संभाषमाणं तं प्रत्युवाच कपीश्वरः । विस्मयंश्चेतसि भृशं रामसेवाकरं नृपम्
Śeṣa said: As he was thus speaking, the lord of monkeys replied to him, his mind greatly astonished at the king devoted to Rāma's service.
जानीहि मां नृपश्रेष्ठ वालिपुत्रं हरीश्वरम् । शत्रुघ्नेन च दूतत्वे प्रेषितो भवतोंऽतिकम्
Know me, best of kings, to be Aṅgada, son of Vāli and lord of monkeys. I have been sent as a messenger by Śatrughna to your presence.
सेवकैः कैश्चिदागत्य धृतोऽश्वो मम सांप्रतम् । अज्ञानतो महान्याय्यं कुर्वद्भिः सहसा नृप
Some of your attendants have come and seized my horse just now, acting rashly and unjustly out of ignorance, O king.
तमश्वं सह राज्येन सहपुत्रैर्मुदान्वितः । शत्रुघ्नं याहि चरणे पतित्वाशु प्रदेहि च
Bring that horse, along with your kingdom, your sons, and with joy, go to Śatrughna, fall at his feet, and quickly return it.
नोचेच्छत्रुघ्ननिर्मुक्तनाराचैः क्षतविग्रहः । पृथ्वीतलमलं कुर्वञ्छयिष्यसि विशीर्षकः
Otherwise, struck by Śatrughna's sharp arrows, your body wounded, you will fall to the ground, your head shattered.
येन लंकापतिर्नाशं प्रापितो लीलया क्षणात् । तस्याश्वं यागयोग्यं तु हृत्वा कुत्र गमिष्यसि
By whom the lord of Laṅkā was destroyed in a moment, playfully—having taken the horse fit for the sacrifice, where will you go?
शेष उवाच। इत्यादिभाषमाणं तं प्रत्युवाच महीश्वरः । सर्वं तथ्यं ब्रवीषि त्वं नानृतं तव भाषितम्
Śeṣa said: Hearing him speak thus, the lord of the earth replied: All you say is true; there is no falsehood in your words.
परं शृणुष्व मद्वाक्यं शत्रुघ्नपदसेवक । मया धृतो महानश्वो रामचंद्रस्य धीमतः
But now listen to my words, O servant at Śatrughna's feet: I have seized the great horse of wise Rāmacandra.
न मोक्ष्ये सर्वथा वाहं शत्रुघ्नादिभयादहम् । चेद्रामः स्वयमागत्य दर्शनं दास्यते मम
I will not release the horse at all, out of fear of Śatrughna or others; if Rāma himself comes and grants me an audience,