इति वाक्यं वदत्येषा जानकी पतिदेवता । तावत्कुशस्तु संप्राप्त उज्जयिन्या महर्षिभिः
As Janaki, devoted to her husband, was speaking these words, at that very moment Kusha arrived at Ujjayini with the great sages.
माघासितचतुर्दश्यां महाकालं समर्च्य च । प्राप्य भूरिवरांस्तस्मादागमन्मातृसन्निधौ
On the fourteenth day of the bright fortnight of Magha, having worshipped Mahakala and received the best gifts from the land, he came into his mother's presence.
जानकीं विह्वलां दृष्ट्वा नेत्रोद्भूताश्रु विक्लवाम् । शोकविह्वलदीनांगीं बभाषे यावदुत्सुकः
Seeing Janaki distraught, her eyes filled with tears and her body weakened by grief, he, eager, spoke to her.
तदा स्वबाहुरवदत्स्फुरद्युद्धाभिशंसनः । हृदये चरणोत्साहो बभूवातिरथस्य हि
Then, with his own arm, he spoke, his words trembling with the promise of battle; in his heart arose the urge for heroic action.
स प्रत्युवाच जननीं दीनगद्गदभाषिणीम् । मातस्तव गतं दुःखं मयि पुत्र उपस्थिते
He replied to his mother, who spoke in a distressed and faltering voice: 'Mother, your sorrow has departed now that your son is present.'
मयि जीवति ते नेत्रादश्रूणि भुवि नो पतन् । प्रसूमुवाचाश्रुखिन्नां दीनगद्गदभाषिणीम्
While I live, your tears will not fall to the earth from your eyes; he spoke thus to his mother, distressed and tearful, in a faltering voice.
कुशो दुःखमितः सद्यो दुःखितां धीरमानसः । मम भ्राता लवः कुत्र वर्तते वैरिमर्दनः
Kusha, who measures sorrow, was immediately distressed in mind; he wondered, 'Where is my brother Lava, the destroyer of enemies, now?'
सदा मामागतं ज्ञात्वा प्रहर्षन्सन्निधावियात् । न दृश्यते कथं वीरः कुत्र रंतुं गतो बली
He would always come to me joyfully, knowing I had arrived; why is this hero not seen, where has the mighty one gone to sport?
केन वा सह बालत्वाद्गतो मां वै निरीक्षितुम् । किं त्वं रोदिषि मे मातर्लवः कुत्र स वर्तते
With whom, due to his youth, has he gone, perhaps to look at me? But mother, why do you weep? Where is that Lava now?
तन्मे कथय सर्वं यत्तव दुःखस्य कारणम् । तच्छ्रुत्वा पुत्रवाक्यं सा दुःखिता कुशमब्रवीत्
Tell me everything, what is the cause of your sorrow; hearing her son's words, she, afflicted, spoke to Kusha.
लवो धृतो नृपेणात्र केनचिद्धयरक्षिणा । बबंध बालको मेत्र हयं यागक्रियोचितम्
Lava was seized here by a king, a protector of horses; the boy tied up the horse meant for the sacrificial rite.
तद्रक्षकान्बहूञ्जिग्ये एकोऽनेकान्रिपून्बली । राजा तं मूर्च्छितं कृत्वा बबंध रणमूर्धनि
He, powerful, defeated many of the guards, though alone against many enemies; the king, making him unconscious, bound him on the battlefield.
बालका इति मामूचुः सहगंतार एव हि । ततोऽहं दुःखिता जाता निशम्य लवमाधृतम्
They, his companions, told me, 'He is a boy'; then I became distressed, hearing that Lava had been captured.
त्वं मोचय बलात्तस्मात्काले प्राप्तो नृपोत्तमात् । निशम्य मातुर्वचनं कुशः कोपसमन्वितः । जगाद तां दशन्नोष्ठं दंतैर्दंतान्विनिष्पिषन्
You must free him by force from that great king when the time comes; hearing his mother's words, Kusha, filled with anger, spoke to her, biting his lip and grinding his teeth.
कुश उवाच। मातर्जानीहि तं मुक्तं लवं पाशस्य बंधनात् । इदानीं हन्मि तं बाणैः समग्रबलवाहनम्
Kusha said: Mother, know that I will free Lava from the bonds of the noose; now I will slay that king with arrows, along with his entire force.
यदि देवोऽमरो वापि यदि शर्वः समागतः । तथापि मोचये तस्माद्बाणैर्निशितपर्वभिः
Even if he is a god, or an immortal, or if Shiva himself has come, still I will free him from there with arrows tipped with sharp points.
मा रोदिषि मातरिह वीराणां रणमूर्छितम् । कीर्तयेऽत्र भवत्येव पलायनमकीर्तये
Do not weep here, mother, for the fainting of heroes in battle; for you, I will bring fame here, and I will not bring disgrace by fleeing.
देहि मे कवचं दिव्यं धनुर्गुणसमन्वितम् । शिरस्त्राणं च मे मातः करवालं तथाशितम्
Give me the divine armor, the bow with its string, the helmet for my head, mother, and the sharpened sword as well.
इदानीं यामि समरे पातयामि बलं महत् । मोचयामि भ्रातरं स्वं रणमध्याद्विमूर्छितम्
Now I go to battle, I will strike down the great army, and I will free my brother, who has fallen unconscious in the midst of the fight.
न मोचयाम्यद्य पुत्रं तव मातर्महारणात् । तदा तौ मे भवत्पादौ संरुष्टौ भवतां क्षितौ
If today I do not free your son from the great battle, mother, then let your feet be covered with dust by me and my brother.
शेष उवाच। इति वाक्येन संतुष्टा जानकी शुभलक्षणा । सर्वं प्रादादस्त्रवृंदं जयाशीर्भिर्नियुज्यतम्
Shesha said: Thus, pleased by his words, Janaki, auspicious in marks, gave him all the weapons, and sent him forth with blessings for victory.
प्रयाहि पुत्र संग्रामं लवं मोचय मूर्च्छितम् । इत्याज्ञप्तः कुशः संख्ये कवची कुंडली बली
Go, my son, to battle, and free Lava, who has fallen unconscious; thus commanded, Kusha, strong, donned armor and earrings.
मुकुटी करवाली च चर्मधारी धनुर्धरः । अक्षयाविषुधी कृत्वा स्कंधयोः सिंहवीर्ययोः
He put on a crown, took up the sword, bore a shield, and grasped the bow; making inexhaustible quivers on his lion-like shoulders.
जगाम तरसा नत्वा मातृपादौ रथाग्रणीः । वेगेन यावद्युद्धाय गच्छति क्षिप्रमाहवे
He, leader of chariots, swiftly went, bowing to his mother's feet; as he hurried to the battle with speed, eager for the fight.
तावद्ददर्श स्वलवं वैरिवृंदनिपातकम् । आयांतं तं कुशं वीरा ददृशुः सुमहाभटाः
At that moment, they saw Svalava, the destroyer of enemy hosts, approaching; the mighty warriors beheld Kuśa coming.
कृतांतमिव संहर्तुं सर्वं विश्वमुपस्थितम् । लवो महाबलं दृष्ट्वा कुशं भ्रातरमागतम्
Seeing Kuśa, his brother, of immense strength, arriving as if to bring an end to all creation, Lava stood ready.
अत्यंतं वह्निवद्युद्धे दिदीपे वायुना समम् । रथादुन्मुच्य चात्मानं युद्धाय स विनिर्गतः
In battle, he shone intensely like fire, together with the wind; leaping from his chariot, he advanced for combat.
कुशः सर्वान्रणस्थान्वै वीरान्पूर्वदिशि क्षिपत् । पश्चिमायां दिशि लवः कोपात्सर्वान्समैरयत्
Kuśa hurled all the warriors standing in the battlefield toward the eastern direction; out of anger, Lava drove them all toward the west.
कुशबाणव्यथाव्याप्ता लवसायकपीडिताः । सैन्ये जना मुने सर्वे उत्कल्लोलांबुधिभ्रमाः ४७ उत्कल। कुशेन च लवेनाथ शरव्रातैः प्रपीडितम् । न शर्म लेभे सकलं सैन्यं वीरप्रपूरितम्
All the people in the army, O sage, afflicted by Kuśa's arrows and tormented by Lava's shafts, were like waves in a stormy ocean; the army, overwhelmed by the showers of arrows from Kuśa and Lava, found no peace, though filled with valiant men.
इतस्ततः प्रभग्नं तद्बलं त्रस्तं पुनः पुनः । न कुत्रचिद्रणे स्थित्वा युद्धमैच्छद्बलान्वितः
That force was repeatedly broken and terrified, fleeing here and there; nowhere in battle did it stand, nor did it desire to fight, though possessing strength.