Meeting of Subahu's Army

Verse 1 (padma.5.25.1)

शेष उवाच। अथ वीक्ष्य भटान्निजान्नृपो रुधिरौघेण परिप्लुतांगकान् । सुखमाप न वै शुशोच तान्परिपप्रच्छ सुतस्य चेष्टितम्

śeṣa uvāca atha vīkṣya bhaṭānnijānnṛpo rudhiraugheṇa pariplutāṁgakān sukhamāpa na vai śuśoca tānparipapraccha sutasya ceṣṭitam

Shesha said: Then, seeing his own warriors, their limbs drenched in floods of blood, the king found no comfort, and, not grieving outwardly, asked them of his son's fate.

Verse 2 (padma.5.25.2)

गदताखिलकर्म तस्य वै स कथं चाहरदश्ववर्यकम् । कथयंतु पुनः कियद्बलं बत वीराः कति योद्धुमागताः

gadatākhilakarma tasya vai sa kathaṁ cāharadaśvavaryakam kathayaṁtu punaḥ kiyadbalaṁ bata vīrāḥ kati yoddhumāgatāḥ

"Tell me all his deeds fully — how did he seize that finest of horses? Tell me too how large a force, how many heroes came to fight?"

Verse 3 (padma.5.25.3)

अथ शत्रुबलोन्मुखः कथं मम वीरो दमनो रणं व्यधात् । विजयं च विधाय दुर्जयं किल वीरं बत कोऽप्यशातयत्

atha śatrubalonmukhaḥ kathaṁ mama vīro damano raṇaṁ vyadhāt vijayaṁ ca vidhāya durjayaṁ kila vīraṁ bata ko'pyaśātayat

"How did my hero Damana, facing the enemy's forces, wage the battle? And having won an unconquerable victory, who indeed struck down that hero?"

Verse 4 (padma.5.25.4)

इत्याकर्ण्य वचो राज्ञः प्रत्यूचुस्तेऽस्य सेवकाः । क्षतजेन परिक्लिन्न गात्रवस्त्रादिधारिणः

ityākarṇya vaco rājñaḥ pratyūcuste'sya sevakāḥ kṣatajena pariklinna gātravastrādidhāriṇaḥ

Hearing the king's words, his servants, their limbs and garments soaked with blood, replied —

Verse 5 (padma.5.25.5)

राजन्नश्वं समालोक्य पत्रचिह्नाद्यलंकृतम् । ग्राहयामास गर्वेण तृणीकृत्य रघूत्तमम्

rājannaśvaṁ samālokya patracihnādyalaṁkṛtam grāhayāmāsa garveṇa tṛṇīkṛtya raghūttamam

"O king, seeing the horse, adorned with its document and other marks, he had it seized in pride, treating the finest of the Raghus as mere straw."

Verse 6 (padma.5.25.6)

ततो हयानुगः प्राप्तः स्वल्पसैन्यसमावृतः । तेन साकमभूद्युद्धं तुमुलं रोमहर्षणम्

tato hayānugaḥ prāptaḥ svalpasainyasamāvṛtaḥ tena sākamabhūdyuddhaṁ tumulaṁ romaharṣaṇam

"Then one who followed the horse arrived, surrounded by a small force; with him there was a tumultuous battle, hair-raising to behold."

Verse 7 (padma.5.25.7)

तं मूर्च्छितं ततः कृत्वा तव पुत्रः स्वसायकैः । यावत्तिष्ठत्यथायातः शत्रुघ्नः स्वबलैर्वृतः

taṁ mūrcchitaṁ tataḥ kṛtvā tava putraḥ svasāyakaiḥ yāvattiṣṭhatyathāyātaḥ śatrughnaḥ svabalairvṛtaḥ

"Having made him fall senseless with his own arrows, your son stood there — until Shatrughna arrived, surrounded by his own forces."

Verse 8 (padma.5.25.8)

ततो युद्धं महदभूच्छस्त्रास्त्रपरिबृंहितम् । बहुशो जयमापेदे तव पुत्रो महाबलः

tato yuddhaṁ mahadabhūcchastrāstraparibṛṁhitam bahuśo jayamāpede tava putro mahābalaḥ

"Then a great battle arose, swelled with weapons and missiles; your son, of great strength, gained victory many times."

Verse 9 (padma.5.25.9)

इदानीं तेन मुक्त्वास्त्रं शत्रुघ्नभ्रातृसूनुना । मूर्च्छितः प्रधने राजन्कृतो वीरः सुतस्तव

idānīṁ tena muktvāstraṁ śatrughnabhrātṛsūnunā mūrcchitaḥ pradhane rājankṛto vīraḥ sutastava

"But now, by that son of Shatrughna's brother, having released his weapon, your hero son has been rendered senseless on the battlefield, O king."

Verse 10 (padma.5.25.10)

इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य रोषशोकसमन्वितः । स्थगितांग इवासीत्स समुद्र इव पर्वणि

iti vākyaṁ samākarṇya roṣaśokasamanvitaḥ sthagitāṁga ivāsītsa samudra iva parvaṇi

Hearing these words, filled with fury and grief, he became as if paralyzed in body, like the ocean at the full moon.

Verse 11 (padma.5.25.11)

उवाच सेनाधिपतिं रोषप्रस्फुरिताधरः । दन्तैर्दताँल्लिहन्नोष्ठं जिह्वया शोककर्शितः

uvāca senādhipatiṁ roṣaprasphuritādharaḥ dantairdatā~llihannoṣṭhaṁ jihvayā śokakarśitaḥ

He spoke to his commander, his lip trembling with rage, licking his teeth-bitten lips with his tongue, wasted with grief —

Verse 12 (padma.5.25.12)

सेनापते कुरुष्वारान्मम सेनां तु सज्जिताम् । योत्स्ये रामस्य सुभटैर्ममपुत्रोपघातकैः

senāpate kuruṣvārānmama senāṁ tu sajjitām yotsye rāmasya subhaṭairmamaputropaghātakaiḥ

"Commander, make ready at once my army; I shall fight Rama's fine warriors, the assailants of my son."

Verse 13 (padma.5.25.13)

अद्याहं मम पुत्रस्य दुःखदं निशितैः शरैः । पातयिष्ये यदि ह्येनं रक्षितापि महेश्वरः

adyāhaṁ mama putrasya duḥkhadaṁ niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ pātayiṣye yadi hyenaṁ rakṣitāpi maheśvaraḥ

"Today, with sharp arrows, I shall bring down that one who has caused my son such pain — even if the great lord himself protects him!"

Verse 14 (padma.5.25.14)

सेनापतिरिदं वाक्यं प्रोक्तं सुभुजभूपतेः । निशम्य च तथा कृत्वा सज्जीभूतो भवत्स्वयम्

senāpatiridaṁ vākyaṁ proktaṁ subhujabhūpateḥ niśamya ca tathā kṛtvā sajjībhūto bhavatsvayam

The commander, hearing this speech spoken by the mighty-armed king, and having acted accordingly, himself became ready,

Verse 15 (padma.5.25.15)

राज्ञे निवेदयामास ससज्जां चतुरंगिणीम् । सेनां कालबलप्रख्यां हतदुर्जनकोटिकाम्

rājñe nivedayāmāsa sasajjāṁ caturaṁgiṇīm senāṁ kālabalaprakhyāṁ hatadurjanakoṭikām

and reported to the king that his four-division army, ready, was like the very force of time itself, having destroyed millions of the wicked.

Verse 16 (padma.5.25.16)

श्रुत्वा सेनापतेर्वाक्यं सुबाहुः परवीरहा । निर्जगाम ततो यत्र शत्रुघ्नः स्वसुतार्दनः

śrutvā senāpatervākyaṁ subāhuḥ paravīrahā nirjagāma tato yatra śatrughnaḥ svasutārdanaḥ

Hearing the commander's words, Subahu, slayer of enemy heroes, then set out to where Shatrughna, tormentor of his son, was.

Verse 17 (padma.5.25.17)

कुंजरैश्च मदोन्मत्तैर्हयैश्चापि मनोजवैः । रथैश्च सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रपूरितै रिपुजेतृभिः

kuṁjaraiśca madonmattairhayaiścāpi manojavaiḥ rathaiśca sarvaśastrāstrapūritai ripujetṛbhiḥ

With elephants maddened with musth, with horses swift as thought, with chariots filled with every weapon and missile, conquerors of the enemy,

Verse 18 (padma.5.25.18)

भूश्चकंपे तदा तत्र सैन्यभारेण भूरिणा । संमर्दः सुमहानासीत्तत्र सैन्ये विसर्पति

bhūścakaṁpe tadā tatra sainyabhāreṇa bhūriṇā saṁmardaḥ sumahānāsīttatra sainye visarpati

the earth trembled there then, under the great weight of the army; a mighty tumult arose as that army advanced.

Verse 19 (padma.5.25.19)

राजानं निर्गतं दृष्ट्वा रथेन कनकांगिना । शत्रुघ्नबलमुद्युक्तं सर्ववैरिप्रहारकम्

rājānaṁ nirgataṁ dṛṣṭvā rathena kanakāṁginā śatrughnabalamudyuktaṁ sarvavairiprahārakam

Seeing the king set out in his golden chariot, Shatrughna's army, ready and striking down every foe,

Verse 20 (padma.5.25.20)

सुकेतुस्तस्य वै भ्राता गदायुद्धविशारदः । रथेनाश्वा जगामायं सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रपूरितः

suketustasya vai bhrātā gadāyuddhaviśāradaḥ rathenāśvā jagāmāyaṁ sarvaśastrāstrapūritaḥ

his brother Suketu, skilled in mace-warfare, went by chariot, filled with every weapon and missile.

Verse 21 (padma.5.25.21)

चित्रांगस्तु सुतो राज्ञः सर्वयुद्धविचक्षणः । जगाम स्वरथेनाशु शत्रुघ्नबलमुन्मदम्

citrāṁgastu suto rājñaḥ sarvayuddhavicakṣaṇaḥ jagāma svarathenāśu śatrughnabalamunmadam

Chitranga, the king's son, skilled in every kind of warfare, went swiftly by his own chariot against Shatrughna's furious army.

Verse 22 (padma.5.25.22)

तस्यानुजो विचित्राख्यो विचित्ररणकोविदः । ययौ रथेन हैमेन भ्रातृदुःखेन पीडितः

tasyānujo vicitrākhyo vicitraraṇakovidaḥ yayau rathena haimena bhrātṛduḥkhena pīḍitaḥ

His younger brother, named Vichitra, skilled in extraordinary warfare, went by a golden chariot, tormented by grief for his brother.

Verse 23 (padma.5.25.23)

अन्ये शूरा महेष्वासाः सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रकोविदाः । ययुर्नृपसमादिष्टाः प्रधनं वीरपूरितम्

anye śūrā maheṣvāsāḥ sarvaśastrāstrakovidāḥ yayurnṛpasamādiṣṭāḥ pradhanaṁ vīrapūritam

Other heroes, great bowmen, skilled in every weapon and missile, went, commanded by the king, into the battle, filled with warriors.

Verse 24 (padma.5.25.24)

राजा सुबाहुः संरोषादागतः प्रधनांगणे । विलोकयामास सुतं मूर्च्छितं शरपीडितम्

rājā subāhuḥ saṁroṣādāgataḥ pradhanāṁgaṇe vilokayāmāsa sutaṁ mūrcchitaṁ śarapīḍitam

King Subahu, filled with rage, arrived at the field of battle, and beheld his son, senseless, afflicted by arrows,

Verse 25 (padma.5.25.25)

रथोपस्थस्थितं मूढं स्वसुतं दमनाभिधम् । वीक्ष्य दुःखं मुहुः प्राप वीजयामास पल्लवैः

rathopasthasthitaṁ mūḍhaṁ svasutaṁ damanābhidham vīkṣya duḥkhaṁ muhuḥ prāpa vījayāmāsa pallavaiḥ

fallen upon his chariot's seat, that son of his named Damana, bewildered; seeing him, grieved again and again, he fanned him with fresh shoots.

Verse 26 (padma.5.25.26)

जलेन सिक्तः संस्पृष्टो राज्ञा कोमलपाणिना । संज्ञामाप शनैर्वीरो दमनः परमास्त्रवित्

jalena siktaḥ saṁspṛṣṭo rājñā komalapāṇinā saṁjñāmāpa śanairvīro damanaḥ paramāstravit

Sprinkled with water and touched by the king's gentle hand, the hero Damana, most learned in weapons, slowly regained consciousness.

Verse 27 (padma.5.25.27)

उत्थितः क्व धनुर्मेऽस्ति क्व पुष्कल इतो गतः । संसज्य समरं त्यक्त्वा मद्बाणव्रणपीडितः

utthitaḥ kva dhanurme'sti kva puṣkala ito gataḥ saṁsajya samaraṁ tyaktvā madbāṇavraṇapīḍitaḥ

Rising, he said: "Where is my bow? Where has Pushkala gone from here, having withdrawn from the fight, wounded by the injury of my arrows?"

Verse 28 (padma.5.25.28)

इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य सुबाहुः पुत्रभाषितम् । परमं हर्षमापेदे परिरभ्य सुतं स्वकम्

iti vākyaṁ samākarṇya subāhuḥ putrabhāṣitam paramaṁ harṣamāpede parirabhya sutaṁ svakam

Hearing these words spoken by his son, Subahu felt supreme joy, and embraced his own son.

Verse 29 (padma.5.25.29)

दमनो वीक्ष्य जनकं नृपं नम्रशिरोधरः । पपात पादयोर्भक्त्या क्षतदेहोऽस्त्रराजिभिः

damano vīkṣya janakaṁ nṛpaṁ namraśirodharaḥ papāta pādayorbhaktyā kṣatadeho'strarājibhiḥ

Damana, seeing his father the king, his neck bowed low, fell at his feet with devotion, his body wounded by the rows of weapons.

Verse 30 (padma.5.25.30)

स्वसुतं रथसंस्थं तु विधाय नृपतिः पुनः । जगाद सेनाधिपतिं रणकर्मविशारदः

svasutaṁ rathasaṁsthaṁ tu vidhāya nṛpatiḥ punaḥ jagāda senādhipatiṁ raṇakarmaviśāradaḥ

Having set his own son upon the chariot again, the king, skilled in the business of war, then spoke to his commander —

Verse 31 (padma.5.25.31)

व्यूहं रचय संग्रामे क्रौंचाख्यं रिपुदुर्जयम् । यमाविश्य जये सैन्यं शत्रुघ्नस्य महीपतेः

vyūhaṁ racaya saṁgrāme krauṁcākhyaṁ ripudurjayam yamāviśya jaye sainyaṁ śatrughnasya mahīpateḥ

"Array in the battle the formation called Krauncha, unconquerable by the enemy, entering which, for the sake of victory, King Shatrughna's army —"

Verse 32 (padma.5.25.32)

तद्वाक्यमाकर्ण्य सुबाहुभूपतेः । क्रौंचाख्यसद्व्यूहविशेषमादधात् । यन्नो विशंते सहसा रिपोर्गणा । महाबलाः शस्त्रसमूहधारिणः

tadvākyamākarṇya subāhubhūpateḥ krauṁcākhyasadvyūhaviśeṣamādadhāt yanno viśaṁte sahasā riporgaṇā mahābalāḥ śastrasamūhadhāriṇaḥ

Hearing these words of King Subahu, the commander arrayed that fine, special Krauncha formation, so that the enemy's ranks, mighty, bearing masses of weapons, could not suddenly penetrate it.

Verse 33 (padma.5.25.33)

मुखे सुकेतुस्तस्यासीद्गले चित्रांगसंज्ञकः । पक्षयो राजपुत्रौ द्वौ पुच्छे राजा प्रतिष्ठितः

mukhe suketustasyāsīdgale citrāṁgasaṁjñakaḥ pakṣayo rājaputrau dvau pucche rājā pratiṣṭhitaḥ

At its face was Suketu; at its neck, one named Chitranga; at its two wings, the two princes; at its tail, the king himself was stationed.

Verse 34 (padma.5.25.34)

मध्ये सैन्यं महत्तस्य चतुरंगैस्तु शोभितम् । कृत्वा न्यवेदयद्राज्ञे क्रौंचव्यूहं विचित्रितम्

madhye sainyaṁ mahattasya caturaṁgaistu śobhitam kṛtvā nyavedayadrājñe krauṁcavyūhaṁ vicitritam

In its middle was his great army, resplendent with the four divisions; having made this wondrous Krauncha formation, he reported it to the king.

Verse 35 (padma.5.25.35)

राजा दृष्ट्वा सुसन्नद्धं क्रौंचव्यूहं सुनिर्मितम् । रणाय स्वमतिं चक्रे शत्रुघ्नकटके स्थितैः

rājā dṛṣṭvā susannaddhaṁ krauṁcavyūhaṁ sunirmitam raṇāya svamatiṁ cakre śatrughnakaṭake sthitaiḥ

The king, seeing the well-arrayed, well-formed Krauncha formation, made up his mind for battle against those stationed in Shatrughna's camp.