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.
टंकारयामास तदा वीरानाकंपयन्हृदि । वाल्मीकिं प्रथमं स्मृत्वा जानकीं मातरं लवः
Then he made a loud sound, shaking the hearts of the warriors. Lava first remembered Valmiki and his mother Janaki.
मुमोच बाणान्निशितान्सद्यः प्राणापहारिणः । कालजित्स्वधनुः कृत्वा सज्यं कोपसमन्वितः
He released sharp arrows at once, capable of taking life. Kālajit, his bow strung, was filled with anger.
ताडयामास जवनो लवं रणविशारदः । तद्बाणाञ्छतधा छित्त्वा क्षणाद्वेगात्कुशानुजः
Javana, skilled in battle, struck at Lava. In an instant, Kuśa's younger brother swiftly cut those arrows into a hundred pieces.
सेनान्यं विरथं चक्रे वसुभिः स्वशरोत्तमैः । विरथो गजमानीतमारुरोह भटैर्निजैः
With his own excellent arrows, he made the general lose his chariot. Deprived of his chariot, the general mounted an elephant brought by his own soldiers.
मदोन्मत्तं महावेगं सप्तधा प्रस्रवान्वितम् । गजारूढं तु तं दृष्ट्वा दशभिर्धनुषोगतैः
The elephant was mad with intoxication, moving with great speed and streaming in seven directions. Seeing him mounted on the elephant, with ten arrows from his bow—
बाणैर्विव्याध विहसन्सर्वान्रिपुगणाञ्जयी । कालजित्तस्य वीर्यं तु दृष्ट्वा विस्मितमानसः
He struck him with arrows, laughing, and conquered all the enemy troops. Seeing Kālajit's valor, his mind was filled with astonishment.
गदां मुमोच महतीं महायस विनिर्मिताम् । आपतंतीं गदां वेगाद्भारायुतविनिर्मिताम्
He hurled a great mace, crafted by the renowned. The mace rushed forth with force, forged from ten thousand weights.
त्रिधा चिच्छेद तरसा क्षुरप्रैः सकुशानुजः । परिघं निशितं घोरं वैरिप्राणहरोदितम्
Kuśa's younger brother swiftly cut it into three pieces with razor-sharp arrows. He then hurled a deadly, sharp, terrible iron club, famed for taking the lives of enemies.
मुक्तं पुनस्तेन लवश्चिच्छेद तरसान्वितः । छित्त्वा तत्परिघं घोरं कोपादारक्तलोचनः
Again, Lava, full of force, cut it apart. Having split that dreadful club, his eyes reddened with anger.
गजोपस्थे समारूढं मन्यमानश्चुकोप ह । तत्क्षणादच्छिनत्तस्य शुंडां खड्गेन दंतिनः
Mounted on the elephant's back, thinking himself mighty, he grew angry. In that instant, he cut off the elephant's trunk with his sword.