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—
इति संवाच्य कुपितो लवः शस्त्रधनुर्धरः । उवाच मुनिपुत्रांस्तान्रोषगद्गदभाषितः
Having read thus, Lava, angry and armed with weapons and bow, spoke to the sons of the sage, his words choked with rage—
पश्यत क्षिप्रमेतस्य धृष्टत्वं क्षत्रियस्य वै । लिलेख यो भालपत्रे स्वप्रतापबलं नृपः
'See quickly the arrogance of this Kshatriya, who inscribed his own power and might on the horse’s forehead!'
कोऽसौ रामः कः शत्रुघ्नः कीटाः स्वल्पबलाश्रिताः । क्षत्रियाणां कुले जाता एते न वयमुत्तमाः
Who is this Rama? Who is Shatrughna? They are like insects, relying on little strength. Though born in a family of Kshatriyas, they are not the best among us.
एतस्य वीरसूर्माता जानकी न कुशप्रसूः । या रत्नं कुशसंज्ञं तु दधाराग्निमिवारणिः
The mother of this heroic son is Janaki, not one who gave birth to grass. She bore a jewel named Kusha, as fire is held within wood.
इदानीं क्षत्रियत्वादि दर्शयिष्यामि सर्वतः । यदि क्षत्रियभूरेष भविष्यति च शत्रुहा
Now I will demonstrate the qualities of a Kshatriya in every way, if this one is truly a Kshatriya and a destroyer of enemies.
गृहीष्यति मया बद्धं वाहं यज्ञक्रियोचितम् । नोचेत्क्षत्रत्वमुन्मुच्य कुशस्य चरणार्चकः
He will seize the horse I have bound, which is proper for sacrificial rites; otherwise, relinquishing his Kshatriya status, he will worship the feet of Kusha.
अधुना मद्धनुर्मुक्तैः शरैः सुप्तो भविष्यति । अन्ये ये च महावीरा रणमंडलभूषणाः
Now, struck by arrows released from my bow, he will fall asleep, as will the other great warriors who adorn the battlefield.
इत्यादिवाक्यमुच्चार्य लवो जग्राह तं हयम् । तृणीकृत्य नृपान्सर्वांश्चापबाणधरो वरः
Having spoken thus, Lava seized the horse, disregarding all the kings, the excellent one holding bow and arrows.
तदा मुनिसुताः प्रोचुर्लवं हयजिहीर्षकम् । अयोध्यानृपती रामो महाबलपराक्रमः
Then the sons of the sages spoke to Lava, who wished to take the horse: 'Rama, king of Ayodhya, is of great strength and valor.'
तस्य वाहं न गृह्णाति शक्रोऽपि स्वबलोद्धतः । मा गृहाण शृणुष्वेदं मद्वाक्यं हितसंयुतम्
Even Indra, empowered by his own strength, cannot seize his horse. Do not take it; listen to my words, which are filled with benefit.