जपंती रामरामेति मनसा वचसा स्वयम् । निनाय दिवसांस्तत्र जानकी पतिदेवता
Jānakī, devoted to her husband, spent her days there, reciting 'Rāma Rāma' in her mind and aloud.
काले सासूत पूत्रौ द्वौ मनोहरवपुर्धरौ । रामचंद्र प्रतिनिधी ह्यश्विनाविव जानकी
In due time, Jānakī gave birth to two sons, possessing charming forms, who were representatives of Rāma, like the Ashvins.
तच्छ्रुत्वा तु मुनिर्हृष्टो जानक्याः पुत्रसंभवम् । चकार जातकर्मादि संस्कारान्मंत्रवित्तमः
Hearing of Jānakī's sons, the sage, expert in mantras, rejoiced and performed the birth rites and other ceremonies.
कुशैर्लवैश्च वाल्मीकिर्मुनिः कर्माणि चाचरत् । तन्नाम्ना पुत्रयोराख्या कुशो लव इति स्फुटा
The sage Vālmīki carried out the rituals for the boys, Kuśa and Lava, and their names were clearly given as Kuśa and Lava.
वाल्मीकिर्यत्र विरजा मंगलं तद्यथाचरत् । अत्यंतं हृष्टचित्ता सा बभूव कमलेक्षणा
Wherever Vālmīki performed auspicious rites, there the lotus-eyed lady became exceedingly joyful.
तद्दिने लवणं हत्वा शत्रुघ्नः स्वल्पसैनिकः । आगमच्चाश्रमे चास्य वाल्मीकेर्निशि शोभने
On that day, having slain Lavaṇa with a small force, Śatrughna arrived at Vālmīki's beautiful hermitage at night.
तदा वाल्मीकिना शिष्टः शत्रुघ्नो रघुनायकम् । मा शंस जानकीपुत्रौ कथयिष्याम्यहं पुरः
Then, instructed by Vālmīki, Śatrughna, the leader of the Raghus, was told: 'Do not reveal the sons of Jānakī; I will tell the story myself.'
जानकीपुत्रकौ तत्र ववृधाते मनोरमौ । कंदमूलफलैः पुष्टौ व्यदधादुन्मदौ वरौ
There, the delightful sons of Jānakī grew, nourished by roots, fruits, and tubers, becoming strong and excellent, even somewhat wild.
शुक्लप्रतिपदायाश्च शशीव सुमनोहरौ । कालेन संस्कृतौ जातावुपनीतौ मनोहरौ
On the bright first day of the lunar month, the two charming boys were, in time, consecrated and initiated, radiant like the moon.
उपनीयमुनिर्वेदं सांगमध्यापयत्सुतौ । सरहस्यं धनुर्वेदं रामायणमपाठयत्
The sage initiated the boys, taught them the Veda with its branches, and also instructed them in the secret science of archery and the Rāmāyaṇa.
वाल्मीकिना च धनुषी दत्ते स्वर्णसुभूषिते । अभेद्ये सगुणे श्रेष्ठे वैरिवृंदविदारणे
Vālmīki gave them bows adorned with gold, unbreakable, excellent, equipped with all qualities, capable of destroying hosts of enemies.
इषुधी बाणसंपूर्णौ अक्षये करवालके । चर्माण्यभेद्यानि ददौ जानक्यात्मजयोस्तदा
He gave them quivers filled with inexhaustible arrows, armlets, and impenetrable shields to the sons of Jānakī.
धनुर्धरौ धनुर्वेदपारगावाश्रमे मुदा । चरंतौ तत्र रेजाते अश्विनाविव शोभनौ
Bearing bows and skilled in archery, the two shone with joy in the hermitage, like the radiant Ashvins.
जानकी वीक्ष्य पुत्रौ द्वौ खड्गचर्मधरौ वरौ । परमं हर्षमापन्ना विरहोद्भवमत्यजत्
Jānakī, seeing her two sons, splendid with swords and shields, attained supreme joy and abandoned the sorrow born of separation.
एष ते कथितो विप्र जानक्याः पुत्रसंभवः । अतः शृणुष्व यद्वृत्तं वीरबाहुविकृंतनम्
O brāhmaṇa, thus has the birth of Jānakī's sons been told to you; now listen to the deeds performed by Vīrabāhu.
शेष उवाच। शत्रुघ्नो निजवीराणां छिन्नान्बाहून्निरीक्षयन् । उवाच तान्सुकुपितो रोषसंदंशिताधरः
Śeṣa said: Śatrughna, seeing the severed arms of his own warriors, spoke to them, greatly enraged, his lips quivering with anger.
केन वीरेण वो बाहुकृंतनं समकारि भोः । तस्याहं बाहू कृंतामि देवगुप्तस्य वै भटाः
'By which hero were your arms cut off, O soldiers? I will cut off the arms of that one, who is protected by the gods.'
न जानाति महामूढो रामचंद्र बलं महत् । इदानीं दर्शयिष्यामि पराक्रांत्या बलं स्वकम्
'That fool does not know the great strength of Rāma; now I will show my own power through valor.'
स कुत्र वर्तते वीरो हयः कुत्र मनोरमः । को वाऽगृह्णात्सुप्तसर्पान्मूढो ज्ञात्वा पराक्रमम्
Where is that hero now, where is the splendid horse? Who, knowing its power, would foolishly seize sleeping serpents?
इति ते कथिता वीरा विस्मिता दुःखिता भृशम् । रामचंद्र प्रतिनिधिं बालकं समशंसत
Thus the heroes, astonished and deeply distressed, spoke of the boy as Rama's representative.
स श्रुत्वा रोषताम्राक्षो बालकेन हयग्रहम् । सेनान्यं वै कालजितमाज्ञापयद्युयुत्सुकः
Hearing this, his eyes reddened with anger, he ordered Kālajit, the commander, to capture the horse, eager for battle.
सेनानीः सकलां सेनां व्यूहयस्व ममाज्ञया । रिपुः संप्रति गंतव्यो महाबलपराक्रमः
Commander, array the entire army at my command; now we must confront the enemy, mighty and valiant.
नायं बालो हरिर्नूनं भविष्यति हयंधरः । अथवा त्रिपुरारिः स्यान्नान्यथा मद्धयापहृत्
Surely this is not a mere child, nor will he be the horse's keeper; perhaps he is Tripurāri, otherwise my horse would not have been taken.
अवश्यं कदनं भाविसैन्यस्य बलिनो महत् । स्वच्छंदचरितैः खेलन्नास्ते निर्भयधीः शिशुः
Certainly, a great slaughter awaits the powerful army; the fearless boy roams freely, acting as he pleases.
तत्र गंतव्यमस्माभिः सन्नद्धै रिपुदुर्जयैः । एतन्निशम्य वचनं शत्रुघ्नस्य ससैन्यपः
We must go there, fully armed, to conquer the enemy; hearing Śatrughna's words, the army prepared.
सज्जीचकार सेनां तां दुर्व्यूढां चतुरंगिणीम् । सज्जां तां शत्रुजिद्दृष्ट्वा चतुरंगयुतां वराम्
He made the fourfold army ready, though poorly arrayed; seeing it prepared, Śatrughna beheld the excellent fourfold host.
आज्ञापयत्ततो गंतुं यत्र बालो हयंधरः । सा चचाल तदा सेना चतुरंगसमन्विता
Then he ordered them to advance to where the boy guarded the horse; the army moved forth, equipped with all four divisions.
कंपयंती महीभागं त्रासयंती रिपून्बलात् । सेनानीस्तं ददर्शाथ बालकं रामरूपिणम्
Shaking the earth, terrifying the enemy with its force, the commander saw the boy, bearing the form of Rama.
विचार्य रामप्रतिममब्रवीद्वचनं हितम् । बाल मुंच हयश्रेष्ठं रामस्य बलशालिनः
Considering, he spoke wise words to the one resembling Rama: 'Boy, release the noble horse of mighty Rama.'
सेनानीः कालजिन्नाम तस्य भूपस्य दुर्मदः । त्वां रामप्रतिमं दृष्ट्वा कृपा मे हृदि जायते
The commander named Kālajit, arrogant ruler, seeing you, Rama's likeness, feels compassion arise in his heart.