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.
अन्यथा तव मे दौस्थ्याज्जीवितं न भविष्यति । एतद्वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य शत्रुघ्नस्य भटस्य हि
Otherwise, because of your stubbornness, you will not survive; hearing these words of Śatrughna's warrior,
जहास किंचिदाकोपादुवाच च वचोद्भुतम् । गच्छ मुक्तोसि तं रामं कथयस्व हयग्रहम्
He laughed a little in anger and spoke remarkable words: 'Go, you are released; tell Rama about the capture of the horse.'
त्वत्तो बिभेमि नो शूर वाक्येन नयशालिना । ममात्र गणना नास्ति त्वादृशाः कोटयो यदि
I do not fear you, hero, nor your clever words; I do not count you, even if there are millions like you.
मातृपादप्रसादेन तूलीभूता न संशयः । कालजित्तव यन्नाम मात्राकारि मनोज्ञया
By the grace of my mother's feet, I have become weightless, without doubt; Kālajit, your name was given by your charming mother.
पक्वबिंबफलस्येव वर्णतो न च वीर्यतः । दर्शयस्वाधुना वीर्यं स्वनामबलचिह्नितः
Like the color of a ripe bimba fruit, but not in strength; now show your valor, marked by your name and power.
मां कालं तव संजित्य सत्यनामा भविष्यसि । शेष उवाच। स वाक्यैः पविनातुल्यैर्भिन्नः सुभटशेखरः
Defeat me, and then you will truly be called by your name, Kālajit; Śeṣa said: With words as sharp as arrows, the chief warrior was struck.
चुकोप हृदयेऽत्यतं जगाद वचनं पुनः । कस्मिन्कुले समुत्पत्तिः किं नामासि च बालक । त्वन्नाम नाभिजानामि कुलं शीलं वयस्तथा
He grew exceedingly angry in his heart and spoke again: In which family were you born, what is your name, boy? I do not know your name, lineage, character, or age.
पादचारं रथस्थोऽहमधर्मेण कथं जये । तदात्यंतं प्रकुपितो जगाद वचनं पुनः
I am a charioteer, how can I defeat you by unrighteous means? Then, greatly enraged, he spoke again.
कुलेन किं च शीलेन नाम्ना वा सुमनोहृदा । लवोऽहं लवतः सर्वाञ्जेष्यामि रिपुसैनिकान्
What use is lineage, character, or name to a noble heart? I am Lava, son of Lava; I will defeat all the enemy soldiers.
इदानीं त्वामपि भटं करिष्ये पादचारिणम् । इत्थमुक्त्वा धनुः सज्यं चकार स लवो बली
Now I will make you a foot soldier as well. Having spoken thus, the mighty Lava readied his bow.