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.
इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे पातालखण्डे शेषवात्स्यायनसंवादे रामाश्वमेधे लवेन हयबंधनंनाम चतुःपंचाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the Padma Purana, in the Patalakhanda, in the dialogue between Shesha and Vatsyayana, during Rama's Ashvamedha, this is the fifty-fourth chapter named 'The Binding of the Horse by Lava.'
व्यास उवाच। एतां श्रुत्वा कथां रम्यां लवस्य बलिनो मुनिः । संशयानः पर्यपृच्छन्नागं दशशताननम्
Vyasa said: Upon hearing this delightful story of the powerful Lava, the sage, full of doubts, questioned the serpent with a thousand heads.
श्रीवात्स्यायन उवाच। त्वयोक्तं तु पुरा रामः सीतामेकाकिनीं वने । रजकस्य दुरुक्त्यासौ तत्याज महि लोलुपः
Shri Vatsyayana said: You previously told how Rama abandoned Sita, alone in the forest, because of the washerman's harsh words, being swayed by them.
जानक्यां क्व सुतौ जातौ क्व धनुर्धरतां गतौ । कथं च शिक्षिता विद्या यो रामहयमाहरत्
Where were Janaki's sons born, and how did they become skilled in archery? How were they taught the arts, and who brought back Rama's horse?
व्यास उवाच। इति श्रुत्वा मुनेर्वाक्यं शेषो नागो महामतिः । प्रशस्य विप्रं जगदे रामचारित्रमद्भुतम्
Vyasa said: Hearing the sage's words, Shesha, the wise serpent, praised the Brahmin and spoke of the wondrous deeds of Rama.
शेष उवाच। रामो राज्यमयोध्यायां भ्रातृभिः सहितोऽकरोत् । धर्मेण पालयन्सर्वं क्षितिखंडं स्वया स्त्रिया
Shesha said: Rama ruled Ayodhya together with his brothers, governing the entire earth with righteousness, alongside his own wife.
सीता दधार तद्वीर्यं मासाः पंचाभवंस्तदा । अत्यंतं शुशुभे देवी त्रयीव पुरुषं धरा
Sita bore his valor for five months at that time; the goddess shone greatly, like the three Vedas sustaining the earth.
कदाचित्समये रामः पप्रच्छ च विदेहजाम् । कीदृशो दोहदः साध्वि मया ते साध्यते हि सः
Once, at an opportune moment, Rama asked the daughter of Videha, 'O virtuous one, what kind of longing do you have that I may fulfill?'
रहस्येव तु सा पृष्टा त्रपमाणा पतिं सती । लज्जा गद्गद वाग्रामं निजगाद वचोऽमृतम्
In private, when questioned by her husband, the chaste Sita, bashful, spoke to Rama with faltering words, uttering nectar-like speech.
सीतोवाच। त्वत्कृपातो मया सर्वं भुक्तं भोक्ष्यामि शोभनम् । न कश्चिन्मानसे कांत विषयो ह्यतिरिच्यते
Sita said: Through your kindness, I have enjoyed everything and will continue to enjoy what is auspicious. Dearest, no worldly pleasure surpasses what is in my mind.
यस्याभवादृशः स्वामी देवसंस्तुतसत्पदः । तस्याः सर्वं वरीवर्ति न किंचिदवशिष्यते
For one whose lord is like you, praised by the gods and established in virtue, everything is fulfilled; nothing remains lacking.
त्वमाग्रहात्पृच्छसि मां दोहदं मनसि स्थितम् । ब्रवीमि पुरतः सत्यं तव स्वामिन्मनोहर
You insistently ask me about the longing held in my heart; I will speak the truth before you, O charming lord.
चिरं जातं मया सत्यो लोपामुद्रादिकाः स्त्रियः । दृष्ट्वा स्वामिन्मनो द्रष्टुं ता उत्सुकति सुंदरीः
For a long time, I have desired to see the noble women like Lopamudra; my mind longs to behold those beautiful ones, O lord.
राज्यं प्राप्ता त्वया सार्द्धमनेकसुखमास्थिता । कृतघ्नाहं कदापीह ता नमस्कर्तुमानसा
Having attained the kingdom with you and enjoyed many pleasures, I am not ungrateful; I wish to pay respects to them in my heart.
तत्र गत्वा तपःकोशान्वस्त्राद्यैः परिपूजये । रत्नानि चैव भास्वंति भूषा अपि समर्पये
There, I wish to honor the ascetics with garments and other offerings, and to present shining jewels and ornaments as well.
यथा मे तोषिताः सत्यो ददत्याशीर्मनोहराः । एष मे दोहदः कांत परिपूरय मानसः
As they are pleased with me, may they grant delightful blessings; this is my longing, beloved, please fulfill it in your mind.
इत्थमाकर्ण्य वचनं सीतायाः सुमनोहरम् । जगाद परमप्रीतो रामचंद्रः प्रियां प्रति
Hearing Sita's most charming words, Rama, exceedingly pleased, spoke to his beloved.
धन्यासि जानकी प्रातर्गमिष्यसि तपोधनाः । प्रेक्ष्यतास्तु कृतार्था त्वमागमिष्यसि मेंऽतिकम्
You are blessed, Janaki. In the morning, you shall go to the ascetics; may you see them and, having fulfilled your purpose, return to me.
इति रामवचः श्रुत्वा परमां प्रीतिमाप सा । प्रातर्मम भवत्यद्धा तापसीनां समीक्षणम्
Hearing these words of Rāma, she felt supreme delight and said, 'In the morning, you shall surely see the ascetics.'
अथ तन्निशि रामेण चाराः कीर्तिं निजां श्रुताम् । प्रेक्षितुं प्रेषितास्ते तु निशीथे ह्यगमनञ्छनैः
Then, that night, Rāma sent his spies, who had heard of his fame, to observe; and they went quietly at midnight.