तदा लवश्चमूनाथं मन्यमानोऽधिपौरुषम् । करवालं समादाय करे कालानलोपमम्
Then Lava, considering the commander to possess supreme valor, took up a sword in his hand, blazing like the fire of time.
अच्छिनच्छिर एतस्य महामुकुटशोभितम् । हाहाकारो महानासीच्चमूनाथे निपातिते
He cut off his head, adorned with a great crown; when the commander fell, a great cry of 'alas!' arose.
सैनिकाः परिसंक्रुद्धा लवं हंतुं समागताः । लवस्तान्स्वशराघातैः पलायनपरान्व्यधात्
The soldiers, greatly enraged, gathered to kill Lava; but Lava made them flee with the blows of his own arrows.
छिन्नाभिन्नांगकाः केचिद्गता केचिद्रणांगणात् । स निवार्याखिलान्योधान्विजगाह चमूं मुदा
Some, their limbs cut and broken, departed from the battlefield; he, having restrained all the warriors, joyfully entered the army.
वाराह इव निःश्वस्य प्रलये सुमहार्णवम् । गजा भिन्ना द्विधा जाता मौक्तिकैः पूरिता मही
Like a boar breathing heavily in the great ocean at the end of the world, elephants were split in two, and the earth was filled with pearls.
दुर्गमाभूद्भटाग्र्याणां पर्वतैर्व्यापृता यथा । अश्वाः कनकपल्याणा रुचिरारत्नराजिताः
The ground became impassable for the foremost warriors, as if covered with mountains; horses with golden bridles, adorned with beautiful jewels.
अपतन्रुधिराप्लुष्टे ह्रदे बल सुशोभिताः । रथिनः करमध्यस्थ धनुर्दंडसुशोभिनः
Fell into a lake soaked with blood, the army shining splendidly; charioteers, with bows held in the middle of their hands, shone brightly.
रथोपस्थे निपतिताः स्वर्गगा इव वै सुराः । संदष्टौष्ठपुटा वक्त्र भ्रमल्लक्ष्मीविलक्षिताः
Fallen upon the chariot floor, like gods going to heaven; their mouths clenched, faces marked by wandering fortune.
पतितास्तत्र दृश्यंते वीरा रणविशारदाः । सुस्राव शोणितसरिद्धयमस्तककच्छपा
There lay the warriors, skilled in battle; blood flowed in rivers, with heads like turtles.
महाप्रवाहललिता वैरिणां भयकारिका । केषांचिद्बाहविश्छिन्नाः केषां पादा विकर्तिता
Beautifully flowing in great streams, causing fear to enemies; some had arms severed, some had feet mutilated.
केषां कर्णाश्च नासाश्च केषां कवचकुंडले । एवं तु कदनं जातं सेनान्यां पतिते रणे
Some had ears and noses cut off, some had armor and earrings; thus slaughter occurred when the commander fell in battle.
सर्वे निपतिता वीरा न केचिज्जीवितास्ततः । लवो जयं रणे प्राप्य वैरिवृंदं विजित्य च
All the warriors fell; none survived thereafter. Lava, having achieved victory in battle and conquered the host of enemies.
अन्यागमनशंकायां मनः कुर्वन्नवैक्षत । केचिदुर्वरिता युद्धाद्भाग्येन न रणे मृताः
Some, suspecting another attack, kept their minds alert and did not look away; a few, by fortune, escaped from the battle, not dying in the fight.
शत्रुघ्नं सविधे जग्मुः शंसितुं वृत्तमद्भुतम् । गत्वा ते कथयामासुर्यथावृत्तं रणांगणे
They went to Shatrughna, who was nearby, to report the astonishing event; having arrived, they recounted all that had happened on the battlefield.
कालजिन्निधनं बालाच्चित्रकारि रणोद्यमम् । तच्छ्रुत्वा विस्मयं प्राप्तः शत्रुघ्नस्तानुवाच ह
The death of Kalajit by a boy, and the boy's remarkable valor in battle—hearing this, Shatrughna was filled with wonder and spoke to them.
हसन्रोषाद्दशन्दंतान्बालग्राह हयं स्मरन् । रे वीराः किं मदोन्मत्ता यूयं किं वा छलग्रहाः
Laughing with anger, remembering the horse seized by the boy, the ten-tusked one said: 'Hey heroes, are you drunk with pride, or are you deceivers?'
किं वा वैकल्यमायातं कालजिन्मरणं कथम् । यः संख्ये वैरिवृंदानां दारुणः समितिंजयः
'Or has some impairment come upon you? How could Kalajit have died? He, who was a dreadful conqueror of enemy hosts in battle—'
तं कथं बालको जीयाद्यमस्यापि दुरासदम् । शत्रुघ्नवाक्यं संश्रुत्य वीराः प्रोचुरसृक्प्लुताः
'How could a mere boy defeat him, who was difficult even for the mighty to approach? Hearing Shatrughna's words, the warriors, blood-stained, replied:'
नास्माकं मदमत्तादि न च्छलो न च देवनम् । कालजिन्मरणं सत्यं लवाज्जानीहि भूपते
'It is not pride, nor deceit, nor delusion among us; Kalajit's death is true, O king—know this from Lava.'
बलं च कृत्स्नं मथितं बालेनातुलशौंडिना । अतः परं तु यत्कार्यं ये प्रेष्या नृवरोत्तमाः
'The entire army was crushed by the boy of incomparable prowess; now, whatever is to be done next, let the foremost of men command us.'
बालं ज्ञात्वा भवान्नात्र करोतु बलसाहसम् । इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तेषां वीराणां शत्रुहा तदा
'Knowing that it is a boy, do not attempt a show of force here; hearing these words of the warriors, Shatrughna then—'
सुमतिं च मतिश्रेष्ठमुवाच रणकारणे
—spoke to Sumati, the wisest in counsel, regarding the cause of the battle.
शत्रुघ्न उवाच। जानासि किं महामंत्रिन्को बालो हयमाहरत् । येन मे क्षपितं सर्वं बलं वारिधिसन्निभम्
Shatrughna said: 'Do you know, O chief minister, who this boy is who seized the horse, by whom my entire army, vast as the ocean, was destroyed?'
सुमतिरुवाच। स्वामिन्नयं मुनिश्रेष्ठ वाल्मीकेराश्रमो महान् । क्षत्त्रियाणामत्र वासो नास्त्येव परतापन
Sumati said: 'Lord, this is the great hermitage of the eminent sage Valmiki; here, O tormentor of foes, Kshatriyas are not permitted to reside.'
इंद्रो भविष्यति परममर्षी हयमाहरत् । पुरारिर्वान्यथा वाहं तव कः समुपाहरेत्
'It must be Indra himself, or some supremely wrathful being, who has taken the horse; otherwise, who else could have brought it here to you?'
कालजिद्येन नाशं वै प्राप्तः परमदारुणः । तं प्रति श्रीमहाराज गंता कः पुष्कलान्यतः
'By whom Kalajit met his utterly dreadful end—O great king, who else but Pushkala could go against him?'
त्वं च वीरैर्भटैः सर्वैराजभिः परिवारितः । तत्र गच्छस्व सैन्येन महता शत्रुकृंतन
'And you, surrounded by all the heroic warriors and kings, go there with your great army, O destroyer of foes.'
गत्वा स जीवितं वीरं बद्ध्वा तु कुतुकार्थिने । दर्शयिष्यामि रामाय मतं मे त्विदमादृतम्
'Having gone, I will capture that valiant boy alive for the sake of curiosity, and present him to Rama; this is my considered opinion.'
इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य वीरान्सर्वान्समादिशत् । सैन्येन महता यात यूयमायामि पृष्ठतः
Hearing these words, Shatrughna instructed all the warriors: 'Go with the great army; I will follow behind.'
निर्दिष्टास्ते क्षणाद्वीरा जग्मुर्यत्र लवो बली । धनुर्विस्फारयंस्तत्र सुदृढं गुणपूरितम्
So ordered, the heroes at once went to where the mighty Lava was, stringing his strong, well-fitted bow.