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—
सूर्यवंशध्वजो धन्वी धनुर्दीक्षा गुरुर्गुरुः । यं देवाः सामराः सर्वे नमंति मणिमौलिभिः
The banner of the Solar dynasty, master of the bow, initiated in archery, teacher of teachers, whom all the gods with their jeweled crowns bow to—
तस्यात्मजो वीर बलदर्पहारी रघूद्वहः । रामचंद्रो महाभागः सर्वशूरशिरोमणिः
His son, the heroic Rama, destroyer of the pride of the strong, the foremost of the Raghus, greatly fortunate, the crown jewel among all warriors—
तन्माता कोशलनृपपुत्रीरत्नसमुद्भवा । तस्याः कुक्षिभवं रत्नं रामः शत्रुक्षयंकरः
His mother is the princess of Kosala, born of a line of jewels; Rama, destroyer of enemies, is the jewel born from her womb—
करोति हयमेधं स ब्राह्मणेन सुशिक्षितः । रावणाभिधविप्रेंद्र वधपापापनुत्तये
He performs the horse sacrifice, well-instructed by a learned Brahmin, to remove the sins of killing Ravana, the king of Brahmins—
मोचितस्तेन वाहानां मुख्योऽसौ याज्ञिको हयः । महाबलपरीवारो परिखाभिः सुरक्षितः
By him, this chief of horses, the sacrificial steed, has been set free, surrounded by mighty warriors and well-guarded by trenches—
तद्रक्षकोऽस्ति मद्भ्राता शत्रुघ्नो लवणांतकः । हस्त्यश्वरथपादातसंघसेनासमन्वितः
Its protector is my brother Shatrughna, destroyer of Lavana, accompanied by troops of elephants, horses, chariots, and infantry—
यस्य राज्ञ इति श्रेष्ठो मानो जायेत्स्वकान्मदात् । शूरा वयं धनुर्धारि श्रेष्ठा वयमिहोत्कटाः
Let the best among kings take pride in their own valor; we are mighty archers, the foremost and most powerful here—
ते गृह्णंतु बलाद्वाहं रत्नमालाविभूषितम् । मनोवेगं कामजवं सर्वगत्याधिभास्वरम्
Let them seize by force this horse, adorned with a garland of jewels, swift as thought, born of desire, shining above all in speed—
ततो मोचयिता भ्राता शत्रुघ्नो लीलया हठात् । शरासनविनिर्मुक्त वत्सदंतकृतव्यथात्
Then my brother Shatrughna will forcibly and playfully release it, causing pain to the teeth of calves with arrows shot from his bow—
ये क्षत्रियाः क्षत्रियकन्यकायां । जाताश्च सत्क्षेत्रकुलेषु सत्सु । गृह्णंतु ते तद्विपरीतदेहा । नमंतु राज्यं रघवे निवेद्य
Let those Kshatriyas born of noble Kshatriya maidens, and in good families, seize it; those of contrary nature should submit the kingdom to Raghu—