क्षात्रधर्मेण तं भूपं जितवंतौ बलान्वितम् । नास्माकमनयोर्भावि क्षात्रधर्मेण युध्यताम्
"By the Kshatriya code, we have conquered that powerful king; for us two, there is nothing improper, as we fought according to the Kshatriya law."
वाल्मीकिना पुरा प्रोक्तमस्माकं पठतां पुरः
"As was formerly declared by Valmiki, let it be recited before us."
कण्वस्याश्रमकेवाहं धृत्वा यागक्रियोचितम् । तस्मात्सुतः स्वपित्रापि युध्येद्भ्रात्रापि चानुजः
In the hermitage of Kanva, I wore garments suitable for sacrificial rites; therefore, a son may fight even with his own father, and a younger brother with his elder.
गुरुणा शिष्य एवापि तस्मान्नो पापसंभवः । त्वदाज्ञातो ऽधुना चावां दास्यावो हयमुत्तमम्
Even a disciple may fight with his teacher; thus, no sin arises from this. Now, by your command, we shall return the excellent horse to you.
मोक्ष्यावः कीशावेतौ हि करिष्यावो वचस्तव । इत्युक्त्वा मातरं वीरौ गतौ रणे कपीश्वरौ
We will release these two princes and carry out your instruction. Having spoken thus, the two heroic lords of the monkeys approached their mother on the battlefield.
अमुंचतां हयं चापि हयमेधक्रियोचितम् । सीतादेवी स्वपुत्राभ्यां श्रुत्वा सैन्यं निपातितम्
They released the horse, which was fit for the ashvamedha sacrifice. Sita Devi, upon hearing from her sons that the army had been struck down,
श्रीरामं मनसा ध्यात्वा भानुमैक्षत साक्षिणम् । यद्यहं मनसा वाचा कर्मणा रघुनायकम्
Meditating on Shri Rama in her mind, she looked to the Sun as witness: 'If I, in mind, speech, and deed, worship only the lord of the Raghus and none other,
भजामि नान्यं मनसा तर्हि जीवेदयं नृपः । सैन्यं चापि महत्सर्वं यन्नाशितमिदं बलात्
then let this king live, and also this great army, which has been destroyed by force.'
पुत्राभ्यां तत्तु जीवेत मत्सत्याज्जगतांपते । इति यावद्वचो ब्रूते जानकीपतिदेवता
'Let them live by the truth of my words, O lord of the worlds, by my sons.' Thus, as Janaki, the goddess of the lord, spoke these words—
तावद्बलं च तत्सर्वं जीवितं रणमूर्द्धनि
At that very moment, the entire army regained life on the battlefield.
शेष उवाच। क्षणान्मूर्च्छां जहौ वीरः शत्रुघ्नः समरांगणे । अन्येऽपि वीराबलिनो मूर्च्छां प्राप्ताः सुजीविताः
Shesha said: In a moment, the heroic Shatrughna regained consciousness on the field of battle; other mighty warriors also revived from their swoon and lived.
शत्रुघ्नो वाजिनां श्रेष्ठं ददर्श पुरतः स्थितम् । आत्मानं च शिरस्त्राणरहितं सैन्यजीवितम्
Shatrughna saw before him the best of horses standing, and himself without a helmet, with the army restored to life.
वीक्ष्य चित्रमिदं स्वांते चकारच जगाद ह । सुमतिं मंत्रिणां श्रेष्ठं मूर्च्छाविरहितं तदा
Seeing this wondrous thing in his heart, he spoke to Sumati, the best of counselors, who was then free from faintness.
कृपां कृत्वा हयं प्रादाद्बालो यज्ञस्य पूर्तये । गच्छाम रामं तरसा हयागमनकांक्षिणम्
Out of compassion, he gave the horse, still a boy, for the completion of the sacrifice. 'Let us go swiftly to Rama, who longs for the horse's return.'
इत्युक्त्वा स रथे स्थित्वा हयमादाय वेगतः । ययौ तदाश्रमाद्दूरं भेरीशंखविवर्जितः
Having said this, he mounted the chariot, took the horse with speed, and departed far from that hermitage, without drum or conch.
तत्पृष्ठतो महासैन्यं चतुरंगसमन्वितम् । चचाल कुर्वन्संभग्नं स्वभारेण फणीश्वरम्
Behind him followed the great army, complete with four divisions, moving like the lord of serpents, burdened by its own weight.
जवेन जाह्नवीं तीर्त्वा कल्लोलजलशालिनीम् । जगाम विषये स्वीये स्वकीयजनशोभिते
With speed, he crossed the Jahnavi, rich with waves and water, and entered his own realm, adorned by his own people.
पुष्कलेन युतो राजा सुरथेन समन्वितः । रथे मणिमये तिष्ठन्महत्कोदंडधारकः
The king, accompanied by Pushkala and Suratha, stood on a jeweled chariot, bearing a great bow.
हयं तं पुरतः कृत्वा रत्नमालाविभूषितम् । श्वेतातपत्रं तस्यैव मूर्ध्नि चामरभूषितम्
Placing the horse, adorned with a garland of jewels, in front, and a white parasol and chowrie on its head,
अनेकरथसाहस्रैः परितो बलिभिर्नृपैः । उद्यत्कोदंडललितैर्वीरनादविभूषितैः
Surrounded on all sides by thousands of chariots and mighty kings, their bows raised, adorned with the cries of heroes.
क्रमेण नगरीं प्राप सूर्यवंशविभूषिताम् । अनेकैः केतुभिः श्रेष्ठैर्भूषितां दुर्गराजिताम्
Gradually he reached the city adorned by the Solar dynasty, embellished with many excellent banners and ruled over by a mighty fortress.
रामः श्रुत्वा हयं प्राप्तं शत्रुघ्नेन सहामुना । पुष्कलेन च वीरेण ययौ हर्षमनेकधा
Rama, hearing that the horse had arrived together with Shatrughna and the heroic Pushkala, went forth with great joy in many ways.
कटकं निर्दिदेशासौ चतुरंगं महाबलम् । लक्ष्मणं प्रेषयामास भ्रातरं बलिनां वरम्
He directed the great fourfold army encampment, and sent Lakshmana, his brother, foremost among the strong.
लक्ष्मणः सैन्यसहितो गत्वा भ्रातरमागतम् । परिरेभे मुदाक्रांतः क्षतशोभितगात्रकम्
Lakshmana, accompanied by the army, went and embraced his returning brother, whose body was marked by wounds, overcome with gladness.
सर्वत्र कुशलं पृष्टो वार्तां चात्र चकार सः । परमं हर्षमापन्नः शत्रुघ्नः संगतो मुदा
Everywhere he inquired after their welfare and exchanged news; Shatrughna, joined with him in happiness, attained supreme joy.
सौमित्रिः स्वरथे स्थित्वा भ्रात्रा सह महामनाः । सैन्येन महता वीरो ययौ स्वनगरीं प्रति
Saumitri, standing on his own chariot with his brother and great-hearted, went toward his own city with the mighty army.
सरयूः पुण्यसलिला पवित्रित जगत्त्रया । रामपादरजः पूता शरच्चंद्रसमप्रभा
The Sarayu, with its holy waters, purifier of the three worlds, sanctified by the dust of Rama's feet, shone with the radiance of the autumn moon.
हंसकारंडवाकीर्णा चक्रवाकोपशोभिता । विचित्रतरवर्णैश्च पक्षिभिर्नादिता भृशम्
Filled with swans and cranes, further beautified by chakravaka ducks, it resounded greatly with birds of the most varied and splendid colors.
मंडपास्तत्र बहुशो रामचंद्रेणकारिताः । ब्राह्मणानां वेदविदां पृथक्पाठनिनादकाः
There, many pavilions had been constructed by Rama Chandra, echoing with the recitation of Vedas by Brahmins learned in the scriptures.
क्षत्रियास्तत्र बहवो धनुःपाणि सुशोभिताः । ज्याटंकारेण बहुना नादयंतो महीतलम्
There were many Kshatriyas, splendid with bows in hand, making the earth resound with the loud twang of bowstrings.