Shatrughna's Swoon and Kusha's Victory

Verse 1 (padma.5.63.1)

शेष उवाच। लवं विमूर्च्छितं दृष्ट्वा बलिवैरिविदारणम् । शत्रुघ्नो जयमापेदे रणमूर्ध्नि महाबलः

śeṣa uvāca lavaṁ vimūrcchitaṁ dṛṣṭvā balivairividāraṇam śatrughno jayamāpede raṇamūrdhni mahābalaḥ

Shesha said: Seeing Lava, that render of mighty foes, fallen in a swoon, mighty Shatrughna won the victory there at the head of the battle.

Verse 2 (padma.5.63.2)

लवं बालं रथे स्थाप्य शिरस्त्राणाद्यलंकृतम् । रामप्रतिनिधिं मूर्त्या ततो गंतुमियेष सः

lavaṁ bālaṁ rathe sthāpya śirastrāṇādyalaṁkṛtam rāmapratinidhiṁ mūrtyā tato gaṁtumiyeṣa saḥ

Placing the boy Lava, adorned with his helmet and the rest, that living image of Rama, upon a chariot, he then wished to depart from there.

Verse 3 (padma.5.63.3)

स्वमित्रं शत्रुणा ग्रस्तमिति दुःखसमन्विताः । बालामात्रेऽस्य सीतायै त्वरिताः संन्यवेदयन्

svamitraṁ śatruṇā grastamiti duḥkhasamanvitāḥ bālāmātre'sya sītāyai tvaritāḥ saṁnyavedayan

"Our friend has been seized by an enemy" — thus, filled with sorrow, the girls swiftly brought this news to Sita.

Verse 4 (padma.5.63.4)

बाला ऊचुः। मातर्जानकि ते पुत्रो बलाद्वाहमपाहरत् । कस्यचिद्भूपवर्यस्य बलयुक्तस्य मानिनः

bālā ūcuḥ mātarjānaki te putro balādvāhamapāharat kasyacidbhūpavaryasya balayuktasya māninaḥ

The girls said: "Mother Janaki, your son forcibly seized the horse of some mighty, proud king."

Verse 5 (padma.5.63.5)

ततो युद्धमभूद्घोरं तस्य सैन्येन जानकि । तदा वीरेण पुत्रेण तव सर्वं निपातितम्

tato yuddhamabhūdghoraṁ tasya sainyena jānaki tadā vīreṇa putreṇa tava sarvaṁ nipātitam

"Then, O Janaki, a terrible battle followed with his army; and your heroic son struck down everything before him."

Verse 6 (padma.5.63.6)

पश्चादपि जयं प्राप्तः सुतस्तव मनोहरः । तं भूपं मूर्छितं कृत्वा जयमाप रणांगणे

paścādapi jayaṁ prāptaḥ sutastava manoharaḥ taṁ bhūpaṁ mūrchitaṁ kṛtvā jayamāpa raṇāṁgaṇe

"Afterward too your lovely son won the victory; casting that king into a swoon, he claimed the battlefield for his own."

Verse 7 (padma.5.63.7)

ततो मूर्च्छां विहायैष राजा परमदारुणः । संकुप्य पातयामास तव पुत्रं रणांगणे

tato mūrcchāṁ vihāyaiṣa rājā paramadāruṇaḥ saṁkupya pātayāmāsa tava putraṁ raṇāṁgaṇe

"Then that most terrible king, casting off his own swoon, in fury struck your son down upon the battlefield."

Verse 8 (padma.5.63.8)

अस्माभिर्वारितः पूर्वं मा गृहाण हयोत्तमम् । अस्मान्सर्वांश्च धिक्कृत्य ब्राह्मणान्वेदपारगान्

asmābhirvāritaḥ pūrvaṁ mā gṛhāṇa hayottamam asmānsarvāṁśca dhikkṛtya brāhmaṇānvedapāragān

"We had warned him beforehand — 'do not seize this finest of horses' — but he, scorning every one of us, brahmins versed in the Veda —"

Verse 9 (padma.5.63.9)

इति वाक्यं शिशूनां सा समाकर्ण्य सुदारुणम् । पपात भूतलोपस्थे दुःखयुक्ता रुरोद ह

iti vākyaṁ śiśūnāṁ sā samākarṇya sudāruṇam papāta bhūtalopasthe duḥkhayuktā ruroda ha

Hearing this most terrible word of the children, she fell to the ground, and, overcome with sorrow, wept aloud.

Verse 10 (padma.5.63.10)

सीतोवाच। कथं नृपो दयाहीनो बालेन सह युध्यति । अधर्मकृतदुर्बुद्धिर्यो मद्बालं न्यपातयत्

sītovāca kathaṁ nṛpo dayāhīno bālena saha yudhyati adharmakṛtadurbuddhiryo madbālaṁ nyapātayat

Sita said: "How could a merciless king wage war against a mere child — that evil-minded wrongdoer, who struck down my own boy?"

Verse 11 (padma.5.63.11)

लव वीरभवान्कुत्र वर्ततेऽति बलान्वितः । कथं त्वं निष्कृपस्याहो राज्ञोऽहार्षीद्धयोत्तमम्

lava vīrabhavānkutra vartate'ti balānvitaḥ kathaṁ tvaṁ niṣkṛpasyāho rājño'hārṣīddhayottamam

"Lava, my hero, where are you, mighty as you are? Alas, how did that merciless king ever seize your finest horse?"

Verse 12 (padma.5.63.12)

त्वं बालस्ते दुराक्रांताः सर्वशस्त्रविशारदाः । रथस्था विरथस्त्वं वै कथं युद्धं समं भवेत्

tvaṁ bālaste durākrāṁtāḥ sarvaśastraviśāradāḥ rathasthā virathastvaṁ vai kathaṁ yuddhaṁ samaṁ bhavet

"You are but a child, set upon by mighty men skilled in every weapon; you on foot, they upon chariots — how could that battle ever have been fair?"

Verse 13 (padma.5.63.13)

ताताहं तु त्वया सार्द्धं रामत्यागासुखं जहौ । इदानीं रहिता युष्मत्कथं जीवामि कानने

tātāhaṁ tu tvayā sārddhaṁ rāmatyāgāsukhaṁ jahau idānīṁ rahitā yuṣmatkathaṁ jīvāmi kānane

"My child, I bore even the sorrow of Rama's own leaving only for your sake; now, deprived of you, how shall I go on living in this forest?"

Verse 14 (padma.5.63.14)

एहि मां मुंच यज्ञाश्वं गच्छत्वेष महीपतिः । मद्दुःखं नाभिजानासि मम दुःखप्रमार्जकः

ehi māṁ muṁca yajñāśvaṁ gacchatveṣa mahīpatiḥ madduḥkhaṁ nābhijānāsi mama duḥkhapramārjakaḥ

"Come, release the sacrificial horse — let this king go his way; you do not know my own sorrow, O remover of my grief!"

Verse 15 (padma.5.63.15)

कुशो यद्यभविष्यत्स रणे वीरशिरोमणिः । अमोचयिष्यदधुना भवंतं भूपपार्श्वतः

kuśo yadyabhaviṣyatsa raṇe vīraśiromaṇiḥ amocayiṣyadadhunā bhavaṁtaṁ bhūpapārśvataḥ

"If Kusha, that crest-jewel of heroes, had only been there, he would have freed you from that king's grasp by now."

Verse 16 (padma.5.63.16)

सोऽपि मद्दैवतो नास्ति समीपे किं करोम्यतः । दैवमेव ममाप्यत्र कारणं दुःखसंभवे

so'pi maddaivato nāsti samīpe kiṁ karomyataḥ daivameva mamāpyatra kāraṇaṁ duḥkhasaṁbhave

"He too is not beside me now, my own household deity — what am I to do here? In this too, fate alone is the cause of my sorrow."

Verse 17 (padma.5.63.17)

एवमादि बहुश्रीमत्येषा वै विललाप ह । पादांगुष्ठेन लिखती भूमिं नेत्रद्वयाश्रुभिः

evamādi bahuśrīmatyeṣā vai vilalāpa ha pādāṁguṣṭhena likhatī bhūmiṁ netradvayāśrubhiḥ

Speaking this and much more, that fortunate lady lamented, tracing lines upon the ground with her own toe, tears streaming from both her eyes.

Verse 18 (padma.5.63.18)

बालान्प्रति जगादासौ पृथुकः स च भूपतिः । कथं मत्सुतमापात्य रणे कुत्र गमिष्यति

bālānprati jagādāsau pṛthukaḥ sa ca bhūpatiḥ kathaṁ matsutamāpātya raṇe kutra gamiṣyati

She said of that broad-chested king: "Having struck down my son, where will he now go, in this very battle?"

Verse 19 (padma.5.63.19)

इति वाक्यं वदत्येषा जानकी पतिदेवता । तावत्कुशस्तु संप्राप्त उज्जयिन्या महर्षिभिः

iti vākyaṁ vadatyeṣā jānakī patidevatā tāvatkuśastu saṁprāpta ujjayinyā maharṣibhiḥ

Even as devoted Janaki was speaking this word, Kusha arrived, returning from Ujjayini together with the great sages.

Verse 20 (padma.5.63.20)

माघासितचतुर्दश्यां महाकालं समर्च्य च । प्राप्य भूरिवरांस्तस्मादागमन्मातृसन्निधौ

māghāsitacaturdaśyāṁ mahākālaṁ samarcya ca prāpya bhūrivarāṁstasmādāgamanmātṛsannidhau

Having worshipped Mahakala on the dark fourteenth day of Magha, and having obtained abundant boons there, he came into his mother's presence.

Verse 21 (padma.5.63.21)

जानकीं विह्वलां दृष्ट्वा नेत्रोद्भूताश्रु विक्लवाम् । शोकविह्वलदीनांगीं बभाषे यावदुत्सुकः

jānakīṁ vihvalāṁ dṛṣṭvā netrodbhūtāśru viklavām śokavihvaladīnāṁgīṁ babhāṣe yāvadutsukaḥ

Seeing Janaki agitated, tears streaming from her eyes, her very limbs overcome with grief, he spoke to her eagerly, even as she was still speaking —

Verse 22 (padma.5.63.22)

तदा स्वबाहुरवदत्स्फुरद्युद्धाभिशंसनः । हृदये चरणोत्साहो बभूवातिरथस्य हि

tadā svabāhuravadatsphuradyuddhābhiśaṁsanaḥ hṛdaye caraṇotsāho babhūvātirathasya hi

Then his own arm began to throb, foretelling battle; and in that great charioteer's heart there rose an eagerness to act.

Verse 23 (padma.5.63.23)

स प्रत्युवाच जननीं दीनगद्गदभाषिणीम् । मातस्तव गतं दुःखं मयि पुत्र उपस्थिते

sa pratyuvāca jananīṁ dīnagadgadabhāṣiṇīm mātastava gataṁ duḥkhaṁ mayi putra upasthite

He replied to his mother, who spoke in a pitiful, broken voice: "Mother, your sorrow has passed now that your son has come."

Verse 24 (padma.5.63.24)

मयि जीवति ते नेत्रादश्रूणि भुवि नो पतन् । प्रसूमुवाचाश्रुखिन्नां दीनगद्गदभाषिणीम्

mayi jīvati te netrādaśrūṇi bhuvi no patan prasūmuvācāśrukhinnāṁ dīnagadgadabhāṣiṇīm

"While I live, no tear shall ever fall from your eyes to the ground." He said to his mother, weary with tears, speaking still in a pitiful, broken voice —

Verse 25 (padma.5.63.25)

कुशो दुःखमितः सद्यो दुःखितां धीरमानसः । मम भ्राता लवः कुत्र वर्तते वैरिमर्दनः

kuśo duḥkhamitaḥ sadyo duḥkhitāṁ dhīramānasaḥ mama bhrātā lavaḥ kutra vartate vairimardanaḥ

— Kusha, steady of mind, seeing his mother so grieved by this fresh sorrow, asked: "Where is my brother Lava, destroyer of foes?"

Verse 26 (padma.5.63.26)

सदा मामागतं ज्ञात्वा प्रहर्षन्सन्निधावियात् । न दृश्यते कथं वीरः कुत्र रंतुं गतो बली

sadā māmāgataṁ jñātvā praharṣansannidhāviyāt na dṛśyate kathaṁ vīraḥ kutra raṁtuṁ gato balī

"Always, knowing I have come, he runs to me delighted; why is that hero nowhere to be seen? Where has that mighty one gone off to play?"

Verse 27 (padma.5.63.27)

केन वा सह बालत्वाद्गतो मां वै निरीक्षितुम् । किं त्वं रोदिषि मे मातर्लवः कुत्र स वर्तते

kena vā saha bālatvādgato māṁ vai nirīkṣitum kiṁ tvaṁ rodiṣi me mātarlavaḥ kutra sa vartate

"Being still a child, with whom has he gone off to seek me? Mother, why do you weep? Where is that Lava now?"

Verse 28 (padma.5.63.28)

तन्मे कथय सर्वं यत्तव दुःखस्य कारणम् । तच्छ्रुत्वा पुत्रवाक्यं सा दुःखिता कुशमब्रवीत्

tanme kathaya sarvaṁ yattava duḥkhasya kāraṇam tacchrutvā putravākyaṁ sā duḥkhitā kuśamabravīt

"Tell me all this, the very cause of your sorrow." Hearing her son's words, that grieving mother said to Kusha —

Verse 29 (padma.5.63.29)

लवो धृतो नृपेणात्र केनचिद्धयरक्षिणा । बबंध बालको मेत्र हयं यागक्रियोचितम्

lavo dhṛto nṛpeṇātra kenaciddhayarakṣiṇā babaṁdha bālako metra hayaṁ yāgakriyocitam

"Here some king, guardian of a horse, has seized Lava; that boy of mine had bound a horse fit for the rite of sacrifice."

Verse 30 (padma.5.63.30)

तद्रक्षकान्बहूञ्जिग्ये एकोऽनेकान्रिपून्बली । राजा तं मूर्च्छितं कृत्वा बबंध रणमूर्धनि

tadrakṣakānbahūñjigye eko'nekānripūnbalī rājā taṁ mūrcchitaṁ kṛtvā babaṁdha raṇamūrdhani

"He alone, mighty as he is, conquered its many guardians, against countless foes; and the king, casting him into a swoon, bound him at the head of the battle."

Verse 31 (padma.5.63.31)

बालका इति मामूचुः सहगंतार एव हि । ततोऽहं दुःखिता जाता निशम्य लवमाधृतम्

bālakā iti māmūcuḥ sahagaṁtāra eva hi tato'haṁ duḥkhitā jātā niśamya lavamādhṛtam

"The children who went with him told me this; and hearing that Lava had been seized, I fell into this sorrow."

Verse 32 (padma.5.63.32)

त्वं मोचय बलात्तस्मात्काले प्राप्तो नृपोत्तमात् । निशम्य मातुर्वचनं कुशः कोपसमन्वितः । जगाद तां दशन्नोष्ठं दंतैर्दंतान्विनिष्पिषन्

tvaṁ mocaya balāttasmātkāle prāpto nṛpottamāt niśamya māturvacanaṁ kuśaḥ kopasamanvitaḥ jagāda tāṁ daśannoṣṭhaṁ daṁtairdaṁtānviniṣpiṣan

"You have come at just this hour — free him by force from that finest of kings." Hearing his mother's words, Kusha, filled with fury —

Verse 33 (padma.5.63.33)

कुश उवाच। मातर्जानीहि तं मुक्तं लवं पाशस्य बंधनात् । इदानीं हन्मि तं बाणैः समग्रबलवाहनम्

kuśa uvāca mātarjānīhi taṁ muktaṁ lavaṁ pāśasya baṁdhanāt idānīṁ hanmi taṁ bāṇaiḥ samagrabalavāhanam

— biting his own lip, grinding his teeth together, said this to his mother. Kusha said: "Mother, know that Lava is already freed from that bondage —"

Verse 34 (padma.5.63.34)

यदि देवोऽमरो वापि यदि शर्वः समागतः । तथापि मोचये तस्माद्बाणैर्निशितपर्वभिः

yadi devo'maro vāpi yadi śarvaḥ samāgataḥ tathāpi mocaye tasmādbāṇairniśitaparvabhiḥ

"— for I shall now slay him with my arrows, together with his entire army and every mount. Were he a god, an immortal, or Sharva himself come here —"

Verse 35 (padma.5.63.35)

मा रोदिषि मातरिह वीराणां रणमूर्छितम् । कीर्तयेऽत्र भवत्येव पलायनमकीर्तये

mā rodiṣi mātariha vīrāṇāṁ raṇamūrchitam kīrtaye'tra bhavatyeva palāyanamakīrtaye

"— even so, I would free him with sharp, well-jointed arrows. Weep not here, mother — a hero's swoon in battle brings fame, but flight brings only disgrace."

Verse 36 (padma.5.63.36)

देहि मे कवचं दिव्यं धनुर्गुणसमन्वितम् । शिरस्त्राणं च मे मातः करवालं तथाशितम्

dehi me kavacaṁ divyaṁ dhanurguṇasamanvitam śirastrāṇaṁ ca me mātaḥ karavālaṁ tathāśitam

"Give me my divine armor, together with my bow and its string; give me too, mother, my helmet and my sharpened sword."

Verse 37 (padma.5.63.37)

इदानीं यामि समरे पातयामि बलं महत् । मोचयामि भ्रातरं स्वं रणमध्याद्विमूर्छितम्

idānīṁ yāmi samare pātayāmi balaṁ mahat mocayāmi bhrātaraṁ svaṁ raṇamadhyādvimūrchitam

"Now I go into that battle; I shall bring down that vast army; I shall free my own brother, lying senseless in the midst of the fight."

Verse 38 (padma.5.63.38)

न मोचयाम्यद्य पुत्रं तव मातर्महारणात् । तदा तौ मे भवत्पादौ संरुष्टौ भवतां क्षितौ

na mocayāmyadya putraṁ tava mātarmahāraṇāt tadā tau me bhavatpādau saṁruṣṭau bhavatāṁ kṣitau

"Mother, if I do not free your son today from that great battle, then may your two feet upon this earth be angered against me."

Verse 39 (padma.5.63.39)

शेष उवाच। इति वाक्येन संतुष्टा जानकी शुभलक्षणा । सर्वं प्रादादस्त्रवृंदं जयाशीर्भिर्नियुज्यतम्

śeṣa uvāca iti vākyena saṁtuṣṭā jānakī śubhalakṣaṇā sarvaṁ prādādastravṛṁdaṁ jayāśīrbhirniyujyatam

Shesha said: Satisfied by this word, Janaki, of auspicious marks, gave him the whole array of weapons, together with blessings for victory.

Verse 40 (padma.5.63.40)

प्रयाहि पुत्र संग्रामं लवं मोचय मूर्च्छितम् । इत्याज्ञप्तः कुशः संख्ये कवची कुंडली बली

prayāhi putra saṁgrāmaṁ lavaṁ mocaya mūrcchitam ityājñaptaḥ kuśaḥ saṁkhye kavacī kuṁḍalī balī

"Go, my son, into the battle; free Lava from his swoon." Thus commanded, Kusha, mighty, wearing his armor and his earrings —

Verse 41 (padma.5.63.41)

मुकुटी करवाली च चर्मधारी धनुर्धरः । अक्षयाविषुधी कृत्वा स्कंधयोः सिंहवीर्ययोः

mukuṭī karavālī ca carmadhārī dhanurdharaḥ akṣayāviṣudhī kṛtvā skaṁdhayoḥ siṁhavīryayoḥ

— crowned, sword in hand, shield and bow at the ready, his two inexhaustible quivers upon his lion-strong shoulders —

Verse 42 (padma.5.63.42)

जगाम तरसा नत्वा मातृपादौ रथाग्रणीः । वेगेन यावद्युद्धाय गच्छति क्षिप्रमाहवे

jagāma tarasā natvā mātṛpādau rathāgraṇīḥ vegena yāvadyuddhāya gacchati kṣipramāhave

— bowed at his mother's feet and set out swiftly, that foremost of charioteers; and as, with all speed, he hastened toward that battle —

Verse 43 (padma.5.63.43)

तावद्ददर्श स्वलवं वैरिवृंदनिपातकम् । आयांतं तं कुशं वीरा ददृशुः सुमहाभटाः

tāvaddadarśa svalavaṁ vairivṛṁdanipātakam āyāṁtaṁ taṁ kuśaṁ vīrā dadṛśuḥ sumahābhaṭāḥ

— he caught sight of his own Lava, destroyer of hosts of foes; and the great warriors there caught sight of Kusha now arriving —

Verse 44 (padma.5.63.44)

कृतांतमिव संहर्तुं सर्वं विश्वमुपस्थितम् । लवो महाबलं दृष्ट्वा कुशं भ्रातरमागतम्

kṛtāṁtamiva saṁhartuṁ sarvaṁ viśvamupasthitam lavo mahābalaṁ dṛṣṭvā kuśaṁ bhrātaramāgatam

— as though Death itself, destroyer of the whole universe, had come among them. Lava, seeing mighty Kusha, his own brother, thus arrived —

Verse 45 (padma.5.63.45)

अत्यंतं वह्निवद्युद्धे दिदीपे वायुना समम् । रथादुन्मुच्य चात्मानं युद्धाय स विनिर्गतः

atyaṁtaṁ vahnivadyuddhe didīpe vāyunā samam rathādunmucya cātmānaṁ yuddhāya sa vinirgataḥ

— blazed up in that battle like fire fanned by the wind; and, freeing himself from his chariot, went forth to join the fight.

Verse 46 (padma.5.63.46)

कुशः सर्वान्रणस्थान्वै वीरान्पूर्वदिशि क्षिपत् । पश्चिमायां दिशि लवः कोपात्सर्वान्समैरयत्

kuśaḥ sarvānraṇasthānvai vīrānpūrvadiśi kṣipat paścimāyāṁ diśi lavaḥ kopātsarvānsamairayat

Kusha drove back every hero standing in that battle toward the eastern quarter; Lava, in fury, drove all the rest toward the western.

Verse 47 (padma.5.63.47)

कुशबाणव्यथाव्याप्ता लवसायकपीडिताः । सैन्ये जना मुने सर्वे उत्कल्लोलांबुधिभ्रमाः

kuśabāṇavyathāvyāptā lavasāyakapīḍitāḥ sainye janā mune sarve utkallolāṁbudhibhramāḥ

O sage, all the people of that army, afflicted by Kusha's arrows and pained by Lava's shafts, became like a heaving, tossing sea of waves.

Verse 48 (padma.5.63.48)

कुशेन च लवेनाथ शरव्रातैः प्रपीडितम् । न शर्म लेभे सकलं सैन्यं वीरप्रपूरितम्

kuśena ca lavenātha śaravrātaiḥ prapīḍitam na śarma lebhe sakalaṁ sainyaṁ vīraprapūritam

Afflicted by masses of arrows from both Kusha and Lava, that entire army, thronged with heroes, found no rest anywhere.

Verse 49 (padma.5.63.49)

इतस्ततः प्रभग्नं तद्बलं त्रस्तं पुनः पुनः । न कुत्रचिद्रणे स्थित्वा युद्धमैच्छद्बलान्वितः

itastataḥ prabhagnaṁ tadbalaṁ trastaṁ punaḥ punaḥ na kutracidraṇe sthitvā yuddhamaicchadbalānvitaḥ

That army, broken apart on every side, terrified again and again, could nowhere hold its ground and fight, mighty though it was.

Verse 50 (padma.5.63.50)

एतस्मिन्समये राजा शत्रुघ्नः परतापनः । कुशं वीरं ययौ योद्धुं तादृशं लवसन्निभम्

etasminsamaye rājā śatrughnaḥ paratāpanaḥ kuśaṁ vīraṁ yayau yoddhuṁ tādṛśaṁ lavasannibham

At this very moment King Shatrughna, that scorcher of foes, advanced to fight Kusha, that hero so like Lava.

Verse 51 (padma.5.63.51)

कुशं दृष्ट्वा बलाक्रांतं राममूर्तिसमप्रभम् । रथे तिष्ठन्हेममये जगाद परवीरहा

kuśaṁ dṛṣṭvā balākrāṁtaṁ rāmamūrtisamaprabham rathe tiṣṭhanhemamaye jagāda paravīrahā

That slayer of enemy heroes, seeing Kusha, mighty and radiant as the very image of Rama, standing upon a golden chariot, said —

Verse 52 (padma.5.63.52)

शत्रुघ्न उवाच। कोऽसि त्वं सन्निभो भ्रात्रा लवेन सुमहाबलः । किं नामासि महावीर कस्ते तातः क्व ते प्रसूः

śatrughna uvāca ko'si tvaṁ sannibho bhrātrā lavena sumahābalaḥ kiṁ nāmāsi mahāvīra kaste tātaḥ kva te prasūḥ

Shatrughna said: "Who are you, so like your mighty brother Lava? What is your name, great hero? Who is your father, and where is your mother?"

Verse 53 (padma.5.63.53)

कथं वने द्विजैर्जुष्टे तिष्ठसि त्वं नरर्षभ । सर्वं शंस यथायुध्ये त्वया सह महाबल

kathaṁ vane dvijairjuṣṭe tiṣṭhasi tvaṁ nararṣabha sarvaṁ śaṁsa yathāyudhye tvayā saha mahābala

"How do you dwell, O bull among men, in a forest frequented by brahmins? Tell me all this, O mighty one, that I may fight you fairly."

Verse 54 (padma.5.63.54)

इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य कुशः प्रोवाच भूमिपम् । मेघगंभीरया वाचा नादयन्रणमंडलम्

iti vākyaṁ samākarṇya kuśaḥ provāca bhūmipam meghagaṁbhīrayā vācā nādayanraṇamaṁḍalam

Hearing this word, Kusha replied to the king in a voice deep as thunder, making the battlefield resound —

Verse 55 (padma.5.63.55)

केवलं सुषुवे सीता पतिव्रतपरायणा । वने वसावो वाल्मीकेश्चरणार्चनतत्परौ

kevalaṁ suṣuve sītā pativrataparāyaṇā vane vasāvo vālmīkeścaraṇārcanatatparau

"Sita alone, devoted wholly to her husband, gave us birth; we two dwell in the forest, given over to service at Valmiki's feet."

Verse 56 (padma.5.63.56)

मातृसेवासमुद्युक्तौ सर्वविद्याविशारदौ । कुशो लव इति प्रख्यामागतौ भूपतेऽनघ

mātṛsevāsamudyuktau sarvavidyāviśāradau kuśo lava iti prakhyāmāgatau bhūpate'nagha

"Devoted to our mother's service, skilled in every branch of learning, O sinless king, we have become known by the names Kusha and Lava."

Verse 57 (padma.5.63.57)

कस्त्वं वीरो रणश्लाघी किमर्थं हयसत्तमः । मुक्तोऽस्ति समरे त्वद्य जेतासि बलसंयुतः

kastvaṁ vīro raṇaślāghī kimarthaṁ hayasattamaḥ mukto'sti samare tvadya jetāsi balasaṁyutaḥ

"Who are you, hero, so boastful in battle — why has this finest of horses been released here today? Do you think your strength alone will bring you victory?"

Verse 58 (padma.5.63.58)

युध्यस्व त्वं मया सार्द्धं यदि वीरोऽसि भूमिप । इदानीं पातयिष्यामि भवंतं रणमूर्धनि

yudhyasva tvaṁ mayā sārddhaṁ yadi vīro'si bhūmipa idānīṁ pātayiṣyāmi bhavaṁtaṁ raṇamūrdhani

"Fight with me, O lord of the earth, if you are truly a hero; now I shall cast you down at the very head of this battle."

Verse 59 (padma.5.63.59)

शत्रुघ्नस्तं सुतं ज्ञात्वा सीताया रामसंभवम् । विसिष्माय स्वयं चित्ते कोपाद्धनुरुपाददत्

śatrughnastaṁ sutaṁ jñātvā sītāyā rāmasaṁbhavam visiṣmāya svayaṁ citte kopāddhanurupādadat

Shatrughna, knowing him to be that son of Sita, begotten of Rama, was himself struck with wonder at heart, and, in fury, took up his bow.

Verse 60 (padma.5.63.60)

तमात्तधनुषं दृष्ट्वा कुशः कोपसमन्वितः । विस्फारयामास धनुः स्वीयं सुदृढमुत्तमम्

tamāttadhanuṣaṁ dṛṣṭvā kuśaḥ kopasamanvitaḥ visphārayāmāsa dhanuḥ svīyaṁ sudṛḍhamuttamam

Seeing him with bow in hand, Kusha, filled with fury, drew his own sturdy and excellent bow.

Verse 61 (padma.5.63.61)

मुमोच बाणान्निशिताञ्छत्रुघ्नः सर्वशस्त्रवित् । तांश्चिच्छेद कुशः सर्वांल्लीलया प्रहसन्रणे

mumoca bāṇānniśitāñchatrughnaḥ sarvaśastravit tāṁściccheda kuśaḥ sarvāṁllīlayā prahasanraṇe

Shatrughna, versed in every weapon, loosed sharp arrows; and Kusha, laughing, cut down every one of them in that battle with the greatest ease.

Verse 62 (padma.5.63.62)

बाणाश्च शतसाहस्राः कुशस्य च नृपस्य च । भुवनं व्याप्नुवन्सर्वं तच्चित्रमभवन्मुने

bāṇāśca śatasāhasrāḥ kuśasya ca nṛpasya ca bhuvanaṁ vyāpnuvansarvaṁ taccitramabhavanmune

With hundreds of thousands of arrows, of Kusha and of the king alike, the whole world was overspread — a wondrous sight it became, O sage.

Verse 63 (padma.5.63.63)

अग्न्यस्त्रेण कुशः सर्वान्ददाह तरसा बली । शमयामास तं भूपः पर्जन्यास्त्रेण वीर्यवान्

agnyastreṇa kuśaḥ sarvāndadāha tarasā balī śamayāmāsa taṁ bhūpaḥ parjanyāstreṇa vīryavān

Mighty Kusha swiftly burned all of it away with the fire-missile; the powerful king quelled it in turn with the cloud-missile.

Verse 64 (padma.5.63.64)

शमयामास तं भूपो वायव्येनातिविक्रमः । तदा वायुरभूत्तीव्रः सर्वतो रणमंडले । पर्वतास्त्रेण तं वायुं क्षोभयंतं समावृणोत्

śamayāmāsa taṁ bhūpo vāyavyenātivikramaḥ tadā vāyurabhūttīvraḥ sarvato raṇamaṁḍale parvatāstreṇa taṁ vāyuṁ kṣobhayaṁtaṁ samāvṛṇot

The king, of the greatest valor, then quelled it with the wind-missile; a fierce gale rose everywhere upon that field; and Kusha checked that raging wind with the mountain-missile.

Verse 65 (padma.5.63.65)

वज्रास्त्रेण नृपः संख्ये चिच्छेद सनगोपलान् । तदा नारायणास्त्रं स मुमोच कुश उद्भटः । नारायणं तदा भूपं नाशकत्परिबाधितुम्

vajrāstreṇa nṛpaḥ saṁkhye ciccheda sanagopalān tadā nārāyaṇāstraṁ sa mumoca kuśa udbhaṭaḥ nārāyaṇaṁ tadā bhūpaṁ nāśakatparibādhitum

The king cut down those mountains, peaks and all, with the thunderbolt-missile; then defiant Kusha loosed the Narayana missile — yet even this could not touch the king at all.

Verse 66 (padma.5.63.66)

तदा प्रकुपितोऽत्यतं कुशः कोपपरायणः । उवाच भूपं शत्रुघ्नं महाबलपराक्रमम्

tadā prakupito'tyataṁ kuśaḥ kopaparāyaṇaḥ uvāca bhūpaṁ śatrughnaṁ mahābalaparākramam

Then Kusha, filled with the greatest fury, given wholly over to rage, said to King Shatrughna, mighty in strength and valor —

Verse 67 (padma.5.63.67)

जानामि त्वां महावीरं संग्रामे जयकारिणम् । यत्त्वां नारायणास्त्रं मे न बबाधे भयानकम्

jānāmi tvāṁ mahāvīraṁ saṁgrāme jayakāriṇam yattvāṁ nārāyaṇāstraṁ me na babādhe bhayānakam

"I know you now for a great hero, one who brings victory in battle, since even my terrible Narayana missile could not touch you."

Verse 68 (padma.5.63.68)

इदानीं पातयाम्यद्य भूमौ त्वां नृपते शरैः । त्रिभिश्चेन्नकरोम्येतत्प्रतिज्ञां तर्हि मे शृणु

idānīṁ pātayāmyadya bhūmau tvāṁ nṛpate śaraiḥ tribhiścennakaromyetatpratijñāṁ tarhi me śṛṇu

"Now, O king, this very day I shall bring you down to the ground with three arrows; and if I fail in this, hear my own vow —"

Verse 69 (padma.5.63.69)

यो मनुष्यवपुः प्राप्य दुर्लभं पुण्यकोटिभिः । तन्नाद्रियेत संमोहात्तस्य मेस्त्वत्र पातकम्

yo manuṣyavapuḥ prāpya durlabhaṁ puṇyakoṭibhiḥ tannādriyeta saṁmohāttasya mestvatra pātakam

"— whoever, having obtained a human body, rare even for millions of merits, fails from delusion to honor it — may that very man's sin fall upon me."

Verse 70 (padma.5.63.70)

सावधानो भवानत्र भवतु प्रधनांगणे । पातयामि क्षितौ सद्य इत्युक्त्वा स्वशरासने

sāvadhāno bhavānatra bhavatu pradhanāṁgaṇe pātayāmi kṣitau sadya ityuktvā svaśarāsane

"Be watchful now, here upon this battlefield; I shall bring you down to the ground this instant." Having spoken thus, he fitted to his own bow —

Verse 71 (padma.5.63.71)

शरं संरोपयामास घोरं कालानलप्रभम् । लक्षीकृत्य रिपोर्वक्षो विपुलं कठिनं महत्

śaraṁ saṁropayāmāsa ghoraṁ kālānalaprabham lakṣīkṛtya riporvakṣo vipulaṁ kaṭhinaṁ mahat

— a terrible arrow, radiant as the fire of dissolution, taking aim at his foe's broad, hard, mighty chest.

Verse 72 (padma.5.63.72)

तं संधितं शरं दृष्ट्वा शत्रुघ्नः कोपमूर्च्छितः । मुमोच बाणान्निशितान्कुशत्वग्भेदकारकान्

taṁ saṁdhitaṁ śaraṁ dṛṣṭvā śatrughnaḥ kopamūrcchitaḥ mumoca bāṇānniśitānkuśatvagbhedakārakān

Seeing that arrow set upon the bow, Shatrughna, overcome with fury, loosed sharp arrows, capable of piercing even Kusha's skin.

Verse 73 (padma.5.63.73)

स बाणो हृदयं तस्य भेत्तुं तत्प्रचचाल वै । घोररूपो वह्निसमआशीविषवदुच्छ्वसन्

sa bāṇo hṛdayaṁ tasya bhettuṁ tatpracacāla vai ghorarūpo vahnisamaāśīviṣavaducchvasan

That arrow, to pierce his very heart, sped forward trembling, terrible of form, like fire itself, hissing like a venomous serpent.

Verse 74 (padma.5.63.74)

स बाणो नृपवर्येण रामं स्मृत्वाशुलक्षितः । चिच्छेद कुशमुक्तं स सायकं शितपर्वकम्

sa bāṇo nṛpavaryeṇa rāmaṁ smṛtvāśulakṣitaḥ ciccheda kuśamuktaṁ sa sāyakaṁ śitaparvakam

That arrow, swiftly aimed by that finest of kings as he called Rama to mind, cut down the sharp, well-jointed shaft loosed by Kusha.

Verse 75 (padma.5.63.75)

तदात्यंतं प्रकुपितः कुशो बाणस्य कृंतनात् । अपरं सायकं चापे दधार शितपर्वकम्

tadātyaṁtaṁ prakupitaḥ kuśo bāṇasya kṛṁtanāt aparaṁ sāyakaṁ cāpe dadhāra śitaparvakam

Then, greatly enraged at his own arrow being cut down, Kusha fitted to his bow a second sharp, well-jointed shaft.

Verse 76 (padma.5.63.76)

स यावत्तदुरो भेत्तुं करोति च बलोद्धुरः । तं तावदच्छिनत्तस्य शरं कालानलप्रभम्

sa yāvattaduro bhettuṁ karoti ca baloddhuraḥ taṁ tāvadacchinattasya śaraṁ kālānalaprabham

Even as that defiant, mighty one strove to pierce his chest, he, Shatrughna, cut down that arrow, radiant as the very fire of dissolution.

Verse 77 (padma.5.63.77)

तदा कुशो मातृपादौ स्मृत्वा रोषसमन्वितः । तृतीयं चापके स्वीये दधार शरमद्भुतम्

tadā kuśo mātṛpādau smṛtvā roṣasamanvitaḥ tṛtīyaṁ cāpake svīye dadhāra śaramadbhutam

Then Kusha, calling his mother's feet to mind, filled with fury, fitted to his own bow a third and wondrous arrow.

Verse 78 (padma.5.63.78)

शत्रुघ्नस्तमपि क्षिप्रं च्छेत्तुं बाणं समाददे । तावद्विद्धः शरेणासौ पपात धरणीतले

śatrughnastamapi kṣipraṁ cchettuṁ bāṇaṁ samādade tāvadviddhaḥ śareṇāsau papāta dharaṇītale

Shatrughna too swiftly took up an arrow to cut it down; but even as he did, pierced through by that shaft, he fell to the surface of the earth.

Verse 79 (padma.5.63.79)

हाहाकारो महानासीच्छत्रुघ्ने विनिपातिते । जयमापकुशस्तत्र स्वबाहुबलदर्पितः

hāhākāro mahānāsīcchatrughne vinipātite jayamāpakuśastatra svabāhubaladarpitaḥ

A great cry of lamentation arose when Shatrughna fell; and Kusha, proud in the strength of his own arms, won the victory there.