The Setting Forth of the Horse

Verse 1 (padma.5.46.1)

शेष उवाच। आगतं वीक्ष्य श्रीरामं शत्रुघ्नः प्रणतार्तिहम् । भ्रातरं सकलाद्दुःखान्मुक्तोऽभूद्द्विजसत्तम

śeṣa uvāca āgataṁ vīkṣya śrīrāmaṁ śatrughnaḥ praṇatārtiham bhrātaraṁ sakalādduḥkhānmukto'bhūddvijasattama

Shesha said: Seeing Shri Rama, remover of the suffering of those who bow to him, thus arrived, O foremost of brahmins, Shatrughna, beholding his brother, was freed from all sorrow.

Verse 2 (padma.5.46.2)

हनूमान्वीक्ष्य विभ्रांतो रामस्य चरणौ मुदा । ववंदे भक्तरक्षार्थमागतं निजगाद च

hanūmānvīkṣya vibhrāṁto rāmasya caraṇau mudā vavaṁde bhaktarakṣārthamāgataṁ nijagāda ca

Hanuman, seeing him, was overwhelmed with joy, and, bowing at Rama's feet, said to him who had come for the protection of his devotee —

Verse 3 (padma.5.46.3)

स्वामिंस्तवैतद्युक्तं तु स्वभक्तपरिपालनम् । यत्संग्रामे जितं सर्वं पाशबद्धममोचयः

svāmiṁstavaitadyuktaṁ tu svabhaktaparipālanam yatsaṁgrāme jitaṁ sarvaṁ pāśabaddhamamocayaḥ

"My lord, this well becomes you — the protection of your own devotee — in that you have freed from every bond all who lay bound, even though victorious in battle."

Verse 4 (padma.5.46.4)

वयं त्विदानीं धन्या वै यद्द्रक्ष्यामो भवत्पदे । जेष्यामोऽरीन्क्षणादेव त्वत्कृपातो रघूद्वह

vayaṁ tvidānīṁ dhanyā vai yaddrakṣyāmo bhavatpade jeṣyāmo'rīnkṣaṇādeva tvatkṛpāto raghūdvaha

"We are indeed blessed now, that we behold your very feet; by your grace, O uplifter of the Raghus, we shall conquer our foes this very instant."

Verse 5 (padma.5.46.5)

शेष उवाच। स्थाणुस्तदागतं रामं योगिनां ध्यानगोचरम् । पतित्वा पादयोर्विप्र जगाद प्रणताभयम्

śeṣa uvāca sthāṇustadāgataṁ rāmaṁ yogināṁ dhyānagocaram patitvā pādayorvipra jagāda praṇatābhayam

Shesha said: Seeing Rama thus arrived — he who is the very object of yogis' meditation — Sthanu fell at his feet, O brahmin, and spoke to him who removes the fear of those who bow before him —

Verse 6 (padma.5.46.6)

एकस्त्वं पुरुषः साक्षात्प्रकृतेः पर ईर्यसे । यः स्वांशकलया विश्वं सृजस्यवसि हंसि च

ekastvaṁ puruṣaḥ sākṣātprakṛteḥ para īryase yaḥ svāṁśakalayā viśvaṁ sṛjasyavasi haṁsi ca

"You alone are that Person made manifest, beyond Prakriti — you who, by a mere fraction of your own portion, create, sustain, and destroy this universe."

Verse 7 (padma.5.46.7)

अरूपस्त्वमशेषस्य जगतः कारणं परम् । एक एव त्रिधारूपं गृह्णासि कुहकान्वितः

arūpastvamaśeṣasya jagataḥ kāraṇaṁ param eka eva tridhārūpaṁ gṛhṇāsi kuhakānvitaḥ

"Formless, you are yet the supreme cause of this entire universe; you alone, though one, assume through your power of illusion its threefold form."

Verse 8 (padma.5.46.8)

सृष्टौ विधातृरूपेण पालने स्वयमास च । प्रलये जगतः साक्षादहं शर्वाख्यतां गतः

sṛṣṭau vidhātṛrūpeṇa pālane svayamāsa ca pralaye jagataḥ sākṣādahaṁ śarvākhyatāṁ gataḥ

"In creation you appear as the Creator, in sustaining you are present yourself; and at the world's dissolution, I myself become, in truth, that one called Sharva."

Verse 9 (padma.5.46.9)

तव यत्परमेशस्य हयमेधक्रतुक्रिया । ब्रह्महत्यापनोदाय तद्विडंबनमद्भुतम्

tava yatparameśasya hayamedhakratukriyā brahmahatyāpanodāya tadviḍaṁbanamadbhutam

"O Supreme Lord, this very horse-sacrifice you undertake for the removal of the sin of brahmin-slaying is itself but a wondrous play of yours."

Verse 10 (padma.5.46.10)

यत्पादशौचममलं गंगाख्यं शिरसोंऽतरा । वहामि पापशांत्यर्थं तस्य ते पातकं कुतः

yatpādaśaucamamalaṁ gaṁgākhyaṁ śirasoṁ'tarā vahāmi pāpaśāṁtyarthaṁ tasya te pātakaṁ kutaḥ

"That pure water which washed your own feet, and which I bear upon my head as the Ganga to quiet sin — how, then, could any sin ever touch you?"

Verse 11 (padma.5.46.11)

मया बह्वपकाराय कृतं कर्म तव स्फुटम् । क्षम्यतां तत्कृपालो हि भवतो व्यवधायकम्

mayā bahvapakārāya kṛtaṁ karma tava sphuṭam kṣamyatāṁ tatkṛpālo hi bhavato vyavadhāyakam

"This deed I have wrought against you, so plainly harmful — forgive it, O merciful one, this hindrance I have caused you."

Verse 12 (padma.5.46.12)

किं करोमि मया सत्यपालनार्थमिदं कृतम् । जानन्प्रभावं भवतो भक्तरक्षार्थमागतः

kiṁ karomi mayā satyapālanārthamidaṁ kṛtam jānanprabhāvaṁ bhavato bhaktarakṣārthamāgataḥ

"What was I to do? I did this only to keep my own word of truth — I came here for the protection of a devotee, knowing full well your greatness."

Verse 13 (padma.5.46.13)

असौ पुरा उज्जयिन्यां महाकालनिकेतने । स्नात्वा शिप्राख्य सरिति तपस्तेपे महाद्भुतम्

asau purā ujjayinyāṁ mahākālaniketane snātvā śiprākhya sariti tapastepe mahādbhutam

"Long ago this king, in Ujjayini, in the abode of Mahakala, bathed in the river named Shipra and gave himself to a most wondrous penance."

Verse 14 (padma.5.46.14)

ततः प्रसन्नो जातोऽहं जगाद भूमिपं प्रति । याचस्वेति महाराज स वव्रे राज्यमद्भुतम्

tataḥ prasanno jāto'haṁ jagāda bhūmipaṁ prati yācasveti mahārāja sa vavre rājyamadbhutam

"Then, well pleased, I appeared and said to the king, 'Ask a boon, O great king' — and he asked for a wondrous kingdom."

Verse 15 (padma.5.46.15)

मया प्रोक्तं देवपुरे तव राज्यं भविष्यति । यावद्रामहयः पुर्यामागमिष्यति याज्ञिकः

mayā proktaṁ devapure tava rājyaṁ bhaviṣyati yāvadrāmahayaḥ puryāmāgamiṣyati yājñikaḥ

"I told him: 'In this city of the gods your kingdom shall endure just until Rama's sacrificial horse comes into it.'"

Verse 16 (padma.5.46.16)

तावत्प्रभृत्यहं स्थास्ये तव रक्षार्थमुद्यतः । एतद्दत्तवरो राम किं करोमि स्वसत्यतः

tāvatprabhṛtyahaṁ sthāsye tava rakṣārthamudyataḥ etaddattavaro rāma kiṁ karomi svasatyataḥ

"'From that hour I myself shall stand ready for your protection.' Having granted this boon, O Rama, what could I do but keep my own word true?"

Verse 17 (padma.5.46.17)

घृणितोऽस्म्यधुना राज्ञा सपुत्रपशुबांधवः । हयं समर्प्यते पादसेवां राजा विधास्यति

ghṛṇito'smyadhunā rājñā saputrapaśubāṁdhavaḥ hayaṁ samarpyate pādasevāṁ rājā vidhāsyati

"Now, together with his sons, his cattle, and his kinsmen, this king stands condemned by you — let the horse be given over, and let this king serve now at your feet."

Verse 18 (padma.5.46.18)

शेष उवाच। इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य महेशस्य रघूत्तमः । उवाच धीरया वाचा कृपया पूर्णलोचनः

śeṣa uvāca iti vākyaṁ samākarṇya maheśasya raghūttamaḥ uvāca dhīrayā vācā kṛpayā pūrṇalocanaḥ

Shesha said: Hearing these words of Mahesha, that best of the Raghus, his eyes filled with compassion, spoke in a calm, resolute voice —

Verse 19 (padma.5.46.19)

राम उवाच। देवानामयमेवास्ति धर्मो भक्तस्य पालनम् । त्वया साधुकृतं कर्म यद्भक्तो रक्षितोऽधुना

rāma uvāca devānāmayamevāsti dharmo bhaktasya pālanam tvayā sādhukṛtaṁ karma yadbhakto rakṣito'dhunā

Rama said: "This alone is the eternal duty of the gods — the protection of one's own devotee. You have done a righteous deed, in that a devotee has now been protected."

Verse 20 (padma.5.46.20)

ममासि हृदये शर्व भवतो हृदये त्वहम् । आवयोरंतरं नास्ति मूढाः पश्यंति दुर्धियः

mamāsi hṛdaye śarva bhavato hṛdaye tvaham āvayoraṁtaraṁ nāsti mūḍhāḥ paśyaṁti durdhiyaḥ

"You dwell in my heart, O Sharva, and I in yours; there is no difference between the two of us — only the foolish, of perverse understanding, see one."

Verse 21 (padma.5.46.21)

ये भेदं विदधत्यद्धा आवयोरेकरूपयोः । कुंभीपाकेषु पच्यंते नराः कल्पसहस्रकम्

ye bhedaṁ vidadhatyaddhā āvayorekarūpayoḥ kuṁbhīpākeṣu pacyaṁte narāḥ kalpasahasrakam

"Those who insist upon a real difference between the two of us, who are truly of one form — such men are cooked in the Kumbhipaka hells for a thousand kalpas."

Verse 22 (padma.5.46.22)

ये त्वद्भक्तास्त एवासन्मद्भक्ता धर्मसंयुताः । मद्भक्ता अपि भूयस्या भक्त्या तव नतिंकराः

ye tvadbhaktāsta evāsanmadbhaktā dharmasaṁyutāḥ madbhaktā api bhūyasyā bhaktyā tava natiṁkarāḥ

"Whoever are your devotees, righteous as they are, are my devotees too; and my devotees, in turn, through their abundant devotion, bow themselves before you."

Verse 23 (padma.5.46.23)

शेष उवाच। इत्थं भाषितमाकर्ण्य शर्वो वीरमणिं नृपम् । मूर्च्छितं जीवयामास करस्पर्शादिना प्रभुः

śeṣa uvāca itthaṁ bhāṣitamākarṇya śarvo vīramaṇiṁ nṛpam mūrcchitaṁ jīvayāmāsa karasparśādinā prabhuḥ

Shesha said: Hearing these words, the mighty lord Sharva revived King Viramani, who lay in a swoon, by the mere touch of his hand.

Verse 24 (padma.5.46.24)

अन्यानपि सुतानस्य मूर्च्छिताञ्छरपीडितान् । जीवयामास स मृडः समर्थः प्रभुरीश्वरः

anyānapi sutānasya mūrcchitāñcharapīḍitān jīvayāmāsa sa mṛḍaḥ samarthaḥ prabhurīśvaraḥ

He revived the king's other sons as well, who lay senseless, wounded by arrows; that capable and mighty lord Mrida had power to do so.

Verse 25 (padma.5.46.25)

सज्जं विधाय तं भूपं श्रीरामपदयोर्नतिम् । कारयामास भूतेशः पुत्रपौत्रैः परीवृतम्

sajjaṁ vidhāya taṁ bhūpaṁ śrīrāmapadayornatim kārayāmāsa bhūteśaḥ putrapautraiḥ parīvṛtam

Having made the king ready, the lord of beings had him bow, together with his sons and grandsons, at the feet of Shri Rama.

Verse 26 (padma.5.46.26)

धन्यो राजा वीरमणिर्यो ददर्श रघूत्तमम् । योगिभिर्योगनिष्ठाभिर्दुष्प्रापमयुतायुतैः

dhanyo rājā vīramaṇiryo dadarśa raghūttamam yogibhiryoganiṣṭhābhirduṣprāpamayutāyutaiḥ

Blessed indeed was King Viramani, who beheld that foremost of the Raghus — one hard to attain even for ten thousand yogis steadfast in their discipline.

Verse 27 (padma.5.46.27)

ते नत्वा रघुनाथं तं कृतार्थी कृतविग्रहाः । ब्रह्मादिभिः पूज्यतमा अभूवन्द्विजसत्तम

te natvā raghunāthaṁ taṁ kṛtārthī kṛtavigrahāḥ brahmādibhiḥ pūjyatamā abhūvandvijasattama

Bowing to Raghunatha, finding their bodies whole once more, their purpose fulfilled, they became worthy of worship even by Brahma and the other gods, O foremost of brahmins.

Verse 28 (padma.5.46.28)

शत्रुघ्न हनुमद्भ्यां च पुष्कलादिभिरुद्भटैः । परिष्टुताय रामाय ददौ राजा हयोत्तमम्

śatrughna hanumadbhyāṁ ca puṣkalādibhirudbhaṭaiḥ pariṣṭutāya rāmāya dadau rājā hayottamam

With Shatrughna, Hanuman, and Pushkala and the other mighty warriors joining in praise, the king gave that finest of horses over to Rama.

Verse 29 (padma.5.46.29)

राज्येन सहितं सर्वं सपुत्रपशुबांधवम् । शर्वेण प्रेरितः प्रादाद्भूपो वीरमणिस्तदा

rājyena sahitaṁ sarvaṁ saputrapaśubāṁdhavam śarveṇa preritaḥ prādādbhūpo vīramaṇistadā

And then, urged on by Sharva, King Viramani surrendered everything — his very kingdom, together with his sons, his cattle, and his kinsmen.

Verse 30 (padma.5.46.30)

ततो रामो नुतः सर्वैर्वैरिभिर्निजसेवकैः । शत्रुघ्नादिभिरत्यंतमुत्सुकैश्च विशेषतः

tato rāmo nutaḥ sarvairvairibhirnijasevakaiḥ śatrughnādibhiratyaṁtamutsukaiśca viśeṣataḥ

Then Rama, praised by his enemies and his own servants alike, and above all by Shatrughna and the others, filled with eager delight —

Verse 31 (padma.5.46.31)

रथे मणिमये तिष्ठन्बभूव स तिरोहितः । अंतर्हिते रामभद्रे सर्वे प्रापुः सुविस्मयम्

rathe maṇimaye tiṣṭhanbabhūva sa tirohitaḥ aṁtarhite rāmabhadre sarve prāpuḥ suvismayam

— standing upon his jewelled chariot, vanished from sight; and at this disappearance of Ramabhadra all were filled with the greatest wonder.

Verse 32 (padma.5.46.32)

मा जानीहि मनुष्यं तं रामं लोकैकवंदितम् । जले स्थले च सर्वत्र वर्तते संस्थितः सदा

mā jānīhi manuṣyaṁ taṁ rāmaṁ lokaikavaṁditam jale sthale ca sarvatra vartate saṁsthitaḥ sadā

Think not of that Rama, worshipped by all the worlds, as a mere man — he abides always, present in water, on land, and everywhere.

Verse 33 (padma.5.46.33)

ततो वीरा अलं हृष्टा अन्योन्यं परिरेभिरे । तूर्यमंगलवादित्रैः सुमहानुत्सवोऽभवत्

tato vīrā alaṁ hṛṣṭā anyonyaṁ parirebhire tūryamaṁgalavāditraiḥ sumahānutsavo'bhavat

Then the heroes, filled with the greatest delight, embraced one another; and amid trumpets and auspicious music a very great festival took place.

Verse 34 (padma.5.46.34)

ततो मुक्तो हयः सर्वैर्वीरैः शस्त्रास्त्रकोविदैः । सर्वैरनुगतः प्रीतैर्विस्मयेन समन्वितैः

tato mukto hayaḥ sarvairvīraiḥ śastrāstrakovidaiḥ sarvairanugataḥ prītairvismayena samanvitaiḥ

Then the horse was released by all those heroes skilled in weapons and missiles, and everyone, filled with joy and wonder, followed after it.

Verse 35 (padma.5.46.35)

शर्वः सत्यप्रतिज्ञश्च तमनुज्ञाप्य सेवकम् । श्रीरामं शरणं प्रोच्य याहि लोकैकदुर्ल्लभम्

śarvaḥ satyapratijñaśca tamanujñāpya sevakam śrīrāmaṁ śaraṇaṁ procya yāhi lokaikadurllabham

Sharva, true to his word, took leave of that servant, saying: "Go now, and take refuge in Shri Rama — a lord rarely attained in all the worlds."

Verse 36 (padma.5.46.36)

स्वयमंतर्हितस्तत्र प्रलयोत्पत्तिकारकः । कैलासमगमच्छर्वः सेवकैः परिशोभितः

svayamaṁtarhitastatra pralayotpattikārakaḥ kailāsamagamaccharvaḥ sevakaiḥ pariśobhitaḥ

And Sharva himself, the very agent of the world's dissolution and origin, vanished from that place and went to Kailasa, resplendent with his attendants.

Verse 37 (padma.5.46.37)

भूपो वीरमणिर्ध्यायञ्छ्रीरामचरणोदजम् । शत्रुघ्नेन ययौ साकं बलिना बलसंयुतः

bhūpo vīramaṇirdhyāyañchrīrāmacaraṇodajam śatrughnena yayau sākaṁ balinā balasaṁyutaḥ

King Viramani, meditating upon the lotus-feet of Shri Rama, set out together with mighty Shatrughna, accompanied by his own forces.

Verse 38 (padma.5.46.38)

एतद्रामस्य चरितं ये शृण्वंति नरोत्तमाः । तेषां संसारजं दुःखं न भविष्यति कर्हिचित्

etadrāmasya caritaṁ ye śṛṇvaṁti narottamāḥ teṣāṁ saṁsārajaṁ duḥkhaṁ na bhaviṣyati karhicit

Whatever noble men hear this account of Rama shall never again know the sorrow born of worldly existence.