त्वं यागकर्मनिरतोऽसि मुनीश्वरेंद्रै । र्धर्मं विचारयसि भूमिपतीड्यपाद । अत्राहमद्य सुरथेन विगाढपाश -। बद्धोस्मि मोचय महापुरुषाशु देव
'You are devoted to sacrifice and ritual, honored by the greatest sages and kings; you uphold dharma, O worshipped by earth's rulers. Here today I am tightly bound by Suratha—release me quickly, O great Lord.'
नो मोचयस्यथ यदि स्मरणातिरेकात् । त्वं सर्वदेववरपूजितपादपद्म । लोको भवंतमिदमुल्लसितोऽहसिष्य -। त्तस्माद्विलंबमिह माचर मोचयाशु
'If you do not release me now by the power of remembrance, O you whose lotus feet are worshipped by all the best of gods, this world will lose faith in you; therefore, do not delay here, release me quickly.'
इति श्रुत्वा जगन्नाथो रघुवीरः कृपानिधिः । भक्तं मोचयितुं प्रागात्पुष्पकेणाशुवेगिना
Hearing this, the Lord of the universe, the heroic Raghu, ocean of compassion, set out swiftly in the Pushpaka chariot to free his devotee.
लक्ष्मणेनानुगेनाथ भरतेन सुशोभितम् । मुनिवृंदैर्व्यासमुख्यैः समेतं ददृशे कपिः
Hanuman saw him, adorned by Lakshmana as companion and by Bharata, surrounded by hosts of sages led by Vyasa.
तमागतं निजं नाथं वीक्ष्य भूपं समब्रवीत् । पश्य राजन्निजं मोक्तुमायातं कृपया हरिम्
Seeing his own Lord arrive, Hanuman spoke to the king: 'Behold, O king, Hari has come out of compassion to release his own.'
अनेके मोचिताः पूर्वं स्मरणात्सेवका निजाः । तथा मां पाशतो बद्धं संमोचयितुमागतः
'Many of his own servants have previously been released by remembrance; in the same way, he has come to free me, bound by these bonds.'
श्रीरामभद्रमायांतं वीक्ष्यासौ सुरथः क्षणात् । नतीश्च शतशश्चक्रे भक्तिपूरपरिप्लुतः
Seeing the arrival of the glorious Rāma, Suratha at once offered hundreds of bows, his heart overflowing with devotion.
श्रीरामस्तं निजैर्दोर्भिः परिरेभे चतुर्भुजः । मूर्ध्नि सिंचन्नश्रुजलैर्हर्षाद्भक्तं स्वकं मुहुः
The four-armed Rāma embraced him with his own arms, again and again sprinkling his devotee’s head with tears of joy.
उवाच धन्यदेहोऽसि महत्कर्म कृतं त्वया । कपीश्वरस्त्वया बद्धो हनूमान्सर्वतो बलः
He said: 'Blessed is your body; you have performed a great deed. By you, the lord of monkeys, the mighty Hanumān, was bound.'
श्रीरामः कपिवर्यं तं मोचयामास बंधनात् । मूर्छितांस्तान्भटान्सर्वान्वीक्ष्य दृष्ट्या स्वजीवयत्
Rāma released that foremost of monkeys from his bonds, and by his gaze revived all the warriors who had fallen unconscious.
ते मूर्च्छां तत्यजुर्दृष्टा रामेण सुरसेविना । उत्थिता ददृशुः श्रीमद्रामचंद्रं मनोरमम्
When seen by Rāma, the worshipped of the gods, they abandoned their unconsciousness, rose up, and beheld the charming Rāmacandra.
प्रणतास्ते रघुपतिं तेन पृष्टा अनामयम् । सुखीभूता नृपं प्रोचुः सर्वं स्वकुशलं नृपाः
They bowed to Raghupati, and when he asked after their well-being, the kings, now happy, replied that all was well with them.
सुरथो वीक्ष्य रामं च कृपार्थं सेवकात्मनः । आगतं सकलं राज्यं सहयं सुमुदार्पयत्
Seeing Rāma, who had come out of compassion for his servant, Suratha offered his entire kingdom and all his allies.
अनेकवरिवस्याभिः श्रीरामं समतोषयत् । कथयामास मेऽन्याय्यं कृतं ते क्षम राघव । श्रीरामस्तमुवाचाथ कृतं ते वाहरक्षणम्
With many acts of service, he pleased Rāma and said, 'Forgive me, Rāghava, for what was done amiss.' Rāma then said to him, 'You have fulfilled your duty as a protector.'
क्षत्त्रियाणामयं धर्मः स्वामिना सह युद्ध्यते । त्वया साधुकृतं कर्म रणे वीराः प्रतोषिताः
'This is the duty of kṣatriyas: to fight alongside their lord. You have acted well; the heroes in battle are satisfied.'
इत्युक्तवंतं नृहरिं पूजयन्ससुतोऽभवत् । श्रीरामस्त्रिदिनं स्थित्वा ययौ तमनुमंत्र्य च
Having spoken thus, Rāma honored the king as his son. After staying three days, he took leave and departed.
कामगेन विमानेन मुनिभिः सहितो महान् । तं दृष्ट्वा विस्मितास्तस्य कथाश्चक्रुर्मनोहराः
The great one, accompanied by sages, departed in a celestial chariot at will. Seeing him, they were amazed and recounted delightful stories about him.
चंपकं स्वपुरे स्थाप्य सुरथः क्षत्रियो बली । शत्रुघ्नेन समं यातुं मनश्चक्रे महाबलः
Suratha, the mighty kṣatriya, installed Campaka in his own city and, together with Śatrughna, resolved to depart.
शत्रुघ्नः स्वहयं प्राप्य भेरीनादानकारयत् । शंखनादान्बहुविधान्सर्वत्र समवादयत्
Śatrughna, having obtained his own horse, ordered the drums to be sounded and had many kinds of conches blown everywhere.
सुरथेन समं वीरो यज्ञवाहममूमुचत् । स बभ्रामापरान्देशान्न कोपि जगृहे बली
The hero, together with Suratha, released the sacrificial horse. He wandered through other lands, but no one seized him.
यत्रयत्र गतो वाहस्तत्रतत्र परिभ्रमन् । सैन्येन महता यातः शत्रुघ्नः सुरथेन च
Wherever the horse went, wandering here and there, Śatrughna and Suratha followed with a great army.
कदाचिज्जाह्नवीतीरे वाल्मीकेराश्रमं वरम् । गतो मुनिवरैर्जुष्टं प्रातर्धूमेन चिह्नितम्
Once, on the bank of the Jahnavī, they reached the excellent hermitage of Vālmīki, inhabited by great sages and marked by the morning smoke.
इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे पातालखण्डे शेषवात्स्यायनसंवादे रामाश्वमेधे रघुनाथसमागमोनाम त्रिपंचाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fifty-third chapter, entitled 'The Meeting of Raghunātha at the Rāma-Aśvamedha,' in the dialogue of Śeṣa and Vātsyāyana in the Pātāla-khaṇḍa of the glorious Padma Purāṇa.
शेष उवाच। गतः प्रातःक्रियां कर्तुं समिधस्तत्क्रियार्हकाः । आनेतुं जानकीसूनुर्वृतो मुनिसुतैर्लवः
Śeṣa said: In the morning, Lava, son of Jānakī, accompanied by the sons of sages, went to collect firewood suitable for the ritual.
ददर्श तत्र यज्ञाश्वं स्वर्णपत्रेण चिह्नितम् । कुंकुमागरुकस्तूरी दिव्यगंधेन वासितम्
There he saw the sacrificial horse, marked with a golden plate, perfumed with divine fragrances of saffron, agarwood, and musk.
विलोक्य जातकुतुको मुनिपुत्रानुवाच सः । अर्वा कस्य मनोवेगः प्राप्तो दैवान्मदाश्रमम्
Seeing this, filled with curiosity, he spoke to the sage’s sons: 'Whose swift intention has brought this horse, by fate, to my hermitage?'
आगच्छंतु मया सार्धं प्रेक्षंतां मा भयं कृथाः । इत्युक्त्वा स लवस्तूर्णं वाहस्य निकटे गतः
'Come with me, let us see; do not be afraid.' Saying this, Lava quickly went near the horse.
स रराज समीपस्थो वाहस्य रघुवंशजः । धनुर्बाणधरः स्कंधे जयंत इव दुर्जयः
Standing close to the horse, Lava, descendant of Raghu, shone resplendent, bearing bow and arrows on his shoulder, like unconquerable Jayanta.
गत्वा मुनिसुतैः सार्धं वाचयामास पत्रकम् । भालस्थितं स्पष्टवर्णराजिराजितमुत्तमम्
Going with the sons of the sage, he began to read the letter, which was placed on the horse’s forehead, adorned with clear, excellent script.
विवस्वतो महान्वंशः सर्वलोकेषु विश्रुतः । यत्र कोपि पराबाधी न परद्रव्यलंपटः
‘The great lineage of Vivasvat, renowned in all worlds, where none is ever defeated or covetous of another’s wealth—