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.
इत्युक्तं स श्रुतौ धृत्वा जगाद स द्विजात्मजान् । यूयं बलं न जानीथ क्षत्रियाणां द्विजोत्तमाः
Having heard this, he replied to the sons of the twice-born: 'You do not know the strength of Kshatriyas, O best of Brahmins.'
क्षत्रिया वीर्यशौंडीर्या द्विजा भोजनशालिनः । तस्माद्यूयं गृहे गत्वा भुंजंतु जननी हृतम्
Kshatriyas possess valor and prowess; Brahmins are devoted to food. Therefore, you should return home and enjoy what your mother has prepared.
इत्युक्तास्तेऽभवंस्तूष्णीं प्रेक्षंतस्तत्पराक्रमम् । लवस्य मुनिपुत्रास्ते संतस्थुर्दूरतो बहिः
Thus addressed, they became silent, watching his valor; those sons of sages stood at a distance, outside.
एवं व्यतिकरे वृत्ते सेवकास्तस्य भूपतेः । आयातास्तं हयं बद्धं दृष्ट्वा प्रोचुस्तदा लवम्
As this event unfolded, the servants of that king arrived, and seeing the horse bound, they spoke to Lava.
बबंध को हयमहो रुष्टः कस्य च धर्मराट् । को बाणव्रजमध्यस्थः प्राप्स्यते परमां व्यथाम्
Who has bound the horse? Ah! Who is angry, and whose is the righteous king? Who, standing amidst the shower of arrows, will suffer the greatest pain?
तदा लवो जगादाशु मया बद्धोऽश्व उत्तमः । यो मोचयति तस्याशु रुष्टो भ्राता कुशो महान्
Then Lava quickly said: 'The excellent horse has been bound by me. Whoever releases it, my great brother Kusha will become angry.'
यमः करिष्यति किमु ह्यागतोऽपि स्वयं प्रभुः । नत्वा गमिष्यति क्षिप्रं शरवृष्ट्या सुतोषितः
What will Yama do, even if the lord himself arrives? Bowing, he will soon depart, satisfied by the rain of arrows.
शेष उवाच। इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य बालोयमिति तेब्रुवन् । समागता मोचयितुं हयं बद्धं तु ये हरेः
Shesha said: Hearing these words, they said, 'He is just a boy.' Those who had gathered to release the horse bound by Hari.
तान्वैमोचयितुं प्राप्ताञ्छत्रुघ्नस्य च सेवकान् । कोदंडं करयोर्धृत्वा क्षुरप्रान्सममूमुचत्
Those servants of Shatrughna who had come to release it, he struck with his bow, and with razor-sharp arrows he cut them down.
ते छिन्नबाहवः शोकाच्छत्रुघ्नं प्रतिसंगताः । पृष्टास्ते जगदुः सर्वे लवात्स्वभुजकृंतनम्
With their arms severed, they returned to Shatrughna in grief; when questioned, they all said that Lava had cut off their arms.