ततो जानीहि कुमुदं कर्पूरं वा भविष्यति । मा जानीहि मृगांकस्य बिंबं शुभ्रश्रियान्वितम्
Therefore, know that it is a lotus or perhaps camphor; do not consider it the moon's disk, adorned with pure splendor.
तावदन्यो रुषाक्रांतो धुन्वन्स्वं मस्तकं तथा । न जानंति द्विजा मूढाः स्वादुज्ञाना विचक्षणाः
Then another, seized by anger, shook his own head and said: 'Foolish Brahmins do not know; only those wise in taste understand.'
इदं तु क्षौद्रकंदस्यरसेन परिपाचितम् । जानीहि शतपत्रस्य पुष्पाणि मधुराणि च
This, indeed, is honey matured with the essence of sugarcane; know that these are the sweet flowers of the hundred-petaled lotus.
एवं परस्परं विप्राः कंदमूलफलाशिनः । तर्कयंति मुने प्रीता रसज्ञानेऽतिलोलुपाः
Thus, the Brahmins, eating roots, tubers, and fruits, joyfully debated with one another, exceedingly eager in their knowledge of tastes.
तावदन्यो द्विजः प्राह क्षत्त्रियाणां वरं जनुः । भोक्ष्यंते तादृशं त्वन्नं महत्पुण्यैरुपस्कृतम्
Then another Brahmin spoke: 'The birth of Kshatriyas is excellent; they will partake of such food, sanctified by great merit.'
तदा तं प्राब्रवीद्विप्रो दत्तस्य फलमीदृशम् । ये ददत्यग्रजन्मभ्यः प्राप्नुवंति त ईप्सितम्
Then a Brahmin said to him: 'Such is the fruit of giving; those who give to the foremost of births attain what they desire.'
यैरर्चितो नैव हरिर्नैवेद्यैर्विविधैर्मुहुः । तेषामेतादृशं भोज्यं न भवेदक्षिगोचरम्
Those who have not worshipped Hari repeatedly with various offerings—such food as this will not appear before their eyes.
यैर्नरैरग्रजन्मानो भोजिता विविधै रसैः । भुंजते ते स्वादुरसं पापिनां चक्षुरुज्झितम्
Those men who have fed the foremost of births with various tastes—they enjoy sweet flavors, unseen by the eyes of sinners.
एवंविधैरसैर्मिष्टैर्भोजिता द्विजसत्तमाः । मंडपे विपठंतस्ते शब्दब्रह्मविचक्षणाः
Brahmins of highest excellence, fed with such delicious tastes, recited the Vedas in the pavilion, skilled in the knowledge of the word-Brahman.
नृत्यंत्येके हसन्त्येके नदन्त्येके प्रहर्षिताः । उत्सवो बहुरुद्भाति तत्र शत्रुघ्न आगमत्
Some danced, some laughed, some shouted in delight; a great festival arose there, and Shatrughna arrived.
रामः शत्रुघ्नमायांतं पुष्कलेन समन्वितम् । निरीक्ष्यमुदमुद्भूतां रक्षितुं नाशकत्तदा
Rama, seeing Shatrughna approaching together with Pushkala, was filled with joy, but at that moment could not restrain it.
यावदुत्तिष्ठते रामो भ्रातरं हयपालकम् । तावद्रामपदेलग्नः शत्रुघ्नो भ्रातृवत्सलः
As Rama rose to greet his brother, the horse-keeper, Shatrughna, devoted to his brother, fell at Rama's feet.
पादयोः पतितं वीक्ष्य भ्रातरं विनयान्वितम् । परिरेभे दृढं प्रीतः क्षतसंशोभितांगकम्
Seeing his brother fallen at his feet, humble and respectful, Rama embraced him firmly with affection, his body adorned with wounds.
अश्रूणि बहुधा मुंचन्हर्षाच्छिरसि राघवः । अत्यंतं परमां प्राप मुदं वचनदूरगाम्
Raghava, shedding many tears of joy, attained supreme happiness, beyond words.
पुष्कलं स्वीयपदयोर्नम्रं विनयविह्वलः । सुदृढं भुजयोर्मध्ये विनीयापीडयद्भृशम्
Pushkala, bowed at his own feet, overwhelmed with humility, was drawn tightly into a strong embrace between Rama's arms.
हनूमंतं तथा वीरं सुग्रीवं चांगदं तथा । लक्ष्मीनिधिं जनकजं प्रतापाग्र्यं रिपुंजयम्
Likewise, Hanuman the hero, Sugriva, Angada, Lakshminidhi, Janaka's daughter, the foremost in valor, and the conqueror of enemies—
सुबाहुं सुमदं वीरं विमलं नीलरत्नकम् । सत्यवंतं वीरमणिं सुरथं रामसेवकम्
Subahu, Sumada, the valiant, pure, adorned with blue gems, truthful, a jewel among warriors, Suratha, devoted to Rama.
अन्यानपि महाभागान्रघुनाथः स्वयं तदा । परिरेभे दृढं स्निग्धान्पादयोः प्रणतान्नृपान्
At that time, Raghu's Lord himself warmly embraced the other noble kings, those who had bowed at his feet, with affection and firmness.
सुमतिः श्रीरघुपतिं भक्तानुग्रहकारकम् । परिरभ्य दृढं प्रीतः संमुखे तिष्ठदुन्नतः
Sumati, standing before Shri Raghupati, who bestows grace upon devotees, embraced him tightly, uplifted and joyful.
तदा रामो निजामात्यं वीक्ष्य सान्निध्यमागतम् । उवाच परमप्रीत्या मंत्रिणं वदतां वरः
Then Rama, seeing his minister who had arrived in his presence, spoke with utmost delight to the foremost among speakers.
सुमते मंत्रिणां श्रेष्ठ शंश मे वाग्मिनां वर । क एते भूमिपाः सर्वे कथमत्र समागताः
O Sumati, best of ministers, tell me, foremost among eloquent men: who are all these kings, and how have they assembled here?
कुत्रकुत्र हयः प्राप्तः केनकेन नियंत्रितः । कथं वै मोचितो भ्रात्रा महाबलसुशालिना
Where and by whom was the horse obtained, and how was it controlled? How was it freed by your mighty and skilled brother?
शेष उवाच। इत्युक्तो मंत्रिणां श्रेष्ठः सुमतिः प्राह राघवम् । प्रहसन्मेघगंभीर नादेन च सुबुद्धिमान्
Shesha said: Thus addressed, Sumati, the chief among ministers, replied to Raghava, smiling with a deep, thunderous voice, wise in understanding.
सुमतिरुवाच। सर्वज्ञस्य पुरस्तेऽद्य मया कथमुदीर्यते । पृच्छसि त्वं लोकरीत्या सर्वं जानासि सर्वदृक्
Sumati said: How can I speak before you, who are omniscient? You ask according to worldly custom, yet you know all, seeing everything.
तथापि तव निर्देशं शिरस्याधाय सर्वदा । ब्रवीमि तच्छृणुष्वाद्य सर्वराजशिरोमणे
Still, always placing your command upon my head, I will speak; listen now, O crown-jewel of all kings.
त्वत्प्रसादादहो स्वामिन्सर्वत्र जगतीतले । परिबभ्राम ते वाहो भालपत्रसुशोभितः
By your grace, O Lord, your steed, adorned with a shining forehead, wandered everywhere upon the earth.
न कश्चित्तं निजग्राह स्वनामबलदर्पितः । स्वं स्वं राज्यं समर्प्याथ प्रणेमुस्ते पदांबुजम्
No one seized it, proud of their own name and strength; each offered their kingdom and bowed at your lotus feet.
को वा रावण दैत्येंद्र निहंतुर्वाजिसत्तमम् । गृह्णाति विजयाकांक्षी जरामरणवर्जितः
Who, desiring victory and free from old age and death, would capture the excellent horse that slew Ravana, king of demons?
अहिच्छत्रां गतस्तावत्तव वाजी मनोरमः । तद्राजा सुमदः श्रुत्वा हयं प्राप्तं तव प्रभो
Your delightful horse reached Ahichhatra; hearing that your horse had arrived, King Sumada, O Lord,
सपुत्रः प्रबलः सर्वसैन्येन बलिना वृतः । सर्वं समर्पयामास राज्यं निहतकंटकम्
With his son, powerful, surrounded by his entire army, he offered his thornless kingdom, having removed all obstacles.