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.
आयातं तन्महद्दृष्ट्वा बलं वीरप्रपूरितम् । न किंचिन्मनसा बिभ्येलवेन बलशालिना
Seeing that great army arrive, filled with the cries of warriors, Lava, strong in valor, did not feel any fear in his mind.
लवः सिंह इवोत्तस्थौ मृगान्मत्वाऽखिलान्भटान् । धनुर्विस्फारयन्रोषाच्छरान्मुंचन्सहस्रशः
Lava rose up like a lion, regarding all the soldiers as mere deer, stringing his bow in anger and releasing thousands of arrows.
ते शरैः पीड्यमानास्तु महारोषेण पूरिताः । वीरं बालं मन्यमानाः संमुखं प्राद्रवंस्तदा
Those soldiers, afflicted by the arrows and filled with intense rage, considering the young hero to be a child, rushed forward to confront him.
वीरान्सहस्रशो दृष्ट्वा भ्रमिभिः पर्यवस्थितान् । लवो जवेन संधाय शरान्रोषप्रपूरितः
Seeing thousands of warriors surrounded by whirling formations, Lava, filled with wrath, swiftly fitted arrows to his bow.
भ्रमिराद्या सहस्रेण द्वितीयायुतसंख्यया । तृतीयायुतयुग्मेन तुरीयायुतपंचभिः
The first formation was a thousand strong, the second numbered ten thousand, the third was twenty thousand, and the fourth was fifty thousand.
पंचमी लक्षयोधानां षष्ठी योधायुताधिकैः । सप्तमी लक्षयुग्मेन सप्तभिर्भ्रमिभिर्वृतः
The fifth consisted of a hundred thousand soldiers, the sixth had more than ten thousand warriors, the seventh was composed of seven hundred thousand, surrounded by seven whirling formations.
मध्ये लवो भ्रमिव्याप्तः स चरन्वह्निवत्तदा । दाहयामास सर्वान्वै सैनिकान्भ्रमिकारकान्
In the midst, Lava was enveloped by the whirling formations, and moving like fire, he began to burn all the soldiers who formed those circles.
काचित्खङ्गैः शरैः काचित्काचित्प्रासैश्च कुंतलैः । पट्टिशैः परिघैः सर्वा भ्रमिर्भग्ना महात्मना
Some formations were broken by swords and arrows, others by spears and maces, and all were shattered by the great-souled Lava.
सप्तभिर्भ्रमिभिर्मुक्तो रराज स कुशानुजः । मेघवृंदविनिर्मुक्तः शशीव शरदागमे
Released from the seven whirling formations, that son of Kusha shone like the moon freed from clouds at the onset of autumn.
प्राहरत्सर्वथा योधान्भिंदन्गजकरान्बहून् । छिंदञ्छिरांसि वीराणां चक्रभ्रूणि महांति च
He struck many warriors in every way, breaking the arms of elephants, severing the heads of heroes, and shattering great shields.
अनेके पतिता वीरा लवबाणप्रपीडिताः । मुमुहुः समरेऽथान्ये नष्टा अन्ये सुकातराः
Many heroes, afflicted by Lava's arrows, fell; some fainted in battle, others perished, and some were overcome with distress.
पलायनपरं सैन्यं लवबाणप्रपीडितम् । वीक्ष्य वीरो रणे योद्धुं प्रायात्पुष्कलसंज्ञकः
Seeing the army, afflicted by Lava's arrows, intent on fleeing, the hero Puṣkala advanced to fight in battle.
तिष्ठतिष्ठेति च वदन्रोषपूरितलोचनः । रथे सुहयशोभाढ्ये तिष्ठन्प्रायाल्लवं बली
With eyes filled with anger, he called out, 'Stop, stop!' Standing on his chariot adorned with fine horses, the mighty Puṣkala approached Lava.
स लवं प्रत्युवाचाथ पुष्कलः परमास्त्रवित् । तिष्ठ दत्ते मया संख्ये रथे सुहयशोभिते
Then Puṣkala, master of supreme weapons, addressed Lava: 'Stop! I grant you a chariot in battle, adorned with fine horses.'
पदातिना त्वया युद्धं करोमि किमथाहवे । तस्मात्तिष्ठ रथे पश्चाद्युद्ध्येऽहं भवता सह । एतद्वाक्यं निशम्यासौ लवः पुष्कलमब्रवीत्
'Why should I fight you on foot in battle? Therefore, remain on your chariot; afterwards, I will fight with you.' Hearing these words, Lava replied to Puṣkala.
त्वया दत्ते रथे स्थित्वा युद्धं कुर्यामहं रणे । तदा मे पापमेव स्याज्जयः संदिग्ध एव हि
'If I stand on the chariot you have given and fight in battle, then victory would be doubtful and sinful for me.'
न वयं ब्राह्मणा वीर प्रतिग्रहपरायणाः । वयं तु क्षत्रिया नित्यं दानकर्मक्रियारताः
'We are not Brahmins, O hero, devoted to receiving gifts; we are Kshatriyas, always engaged in acts of giving and duty.'
इदानीं त्वद्रथं कोपाद्भनज्मि प्रत्यहं भवान् । पादचारी भवत्येव पश्चाद्युद्धं करिष्यति
'Now, out of anger, I will destroy your chariot; then you will become a foot-soldier, and afterwards, you will fight with me.'
पुष्कलो वाक्यमाकर्ण्य धर्मधैर्यसमन्वितम् । विसिस्माय चिरं चित्ते धनुः सज्यमथाकरोत्
Hearing the words of Puṣkala, endowed with righteousness and courage, he was astonished for a long time in his heart, then made his bow ready.
तमात्तधनुषं दृष्ट्वा लवः कोपसमन्वितः । चापं चिच्छेद पाणिस्थं शरसंधानमाचरन्
Seeing him with the drawn bow, Lava, filled with anger, broke the bow held in his hand and began to prepare an arrow.