Pātāla-khaṇḍa · Chapter 26
Sourceशेष उवाच। शत्रुघ्नस्तद्बलं दृष्ट्वा भीषणाकृतिमेघवत् । हस्त्यश्वरथपादातैर्बहुभिः परिवारितम् १। सुमतिं प्रत्युवाचेदं वचोगंभीरशब्दयुक् । नानावाक्यविचारज्ञैः पंडितैः परिसेवितः २। शत्रुघ्न उवाच। सुमते कस्य नगरं प्राप्तो मे हयसत्तमः । बलमेतन्निरीक्षेहं पयोदधितरंगवत् ३। कस्यैतद्बलमुद्धर्षं चतुरंगसमन्वितम् । पुरतो भाति युद्धाय समुपस्थितमादरात् ४। एतत्सर्वं समाचक्ष्व यथावत्पृच्छतो मम । यज्ज्ञात्वा युद्धसंस्थायै निर्दिशामि स्वकान्भटान् ५। इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य सुमतिः शुभबुद्धिमान् । उवाच वचनं प्रीतः शत्रुघ्नं वैरितापनम् ६। सुमतिरुवाच। चक्रांका नगरी राजन्वर्तते सविधे शुभा । यस्यां संति नराः पापरहिता विष्णुभक्तितः ७। तस्याः पुर्याः पतिरयं सुबाहुर्धर्मवित्तमः । तवायं पुरतो भाति पुत्रपौत्रसमावृतः ८। स्वदारनिरतो नित्यं परदारपराङ्मुखः । विष्णोः कथास्य कर्णस्थाना परार्थप्रकाशिनी ९। परस्वं न समादत्ते षष्ठांशादधिकं नृपः । ब्राह्मणा विष्णुभक्त्यैव पूज्यंते तेन धर्मिणा १०। नित्यं सेवारतो विष्णुपादपद्ममधुव्रतः । एष स्वधर्मनिरतः परधर्मपराङ्मुखः ११। एतस्य बलतुल्यं हि न वीराणां बलं क्वचित् । पुत्रस्य पतनं श्रुत्वा रोषशोकसमाकुलः १२। चतुरंगसमेतोऽयं युद्धाय समुपस्थितः । तवापि वीरा बहवो लक्ष्मीनिधिमुखा अमून् १३। जेष्यंति शस्त्रसंघेन निर्दिशाशु परं हि तान् । शत्रुघ्नस्तद्वचः श्रुत्वा प्रोवाच स्वभटान्वरान् १४। रणप्राप्तिभवोद्धर्षपूरपूरितमानसान् । क्रौंचव्यूहोऽद्य रचितः सुबाहुपरिसैनिकैः १५। मुखपक्षस्थिता योधास्तान्को भेत्स्यति शस्त्रवित् । यस्य भेदे निजा शक्तिर्यो वीर विजयोद्यतः १६। स गृह्णातु मदीयाद्धि पाणिपद्माच्च वीटकम् । तदा लक्ष्मीनिधिर्वीरो जग्राह क्रौंचभेदने १७। सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रविद्वीरैर्बहुभिः परिवारितः । उवाच वचनं राजन्यास्येऽहं क्रौंचभेदने १८। भार्गवः पूर्वमेवासीत्क्रौंचभेत्ता तथा ह्यहम् । तथान्यं वीरमावोचत्कोऽस्य सार्धं गमिष्यति १९। पुष्कलः पृष्ठतस्तस्य यातुं चक्रे मतिं ततः । रिपुतापो नीलरत्न उग्राश्वो वीरमर्दनः २०। सर्वे शत्रुघ्नसंदेशाद्ययुस्तत्क्रौंचभेदने । शत्रुघ्नोऽपि रथस्थश्च सर्वायुधधरः परः २१। पृष्ठतोऽस्य परीयाय बहुभिः सैनिकैर्वृतः । तदा प्रचलितौ दृष्टावन्योन्यबलवारिधी २२। प्रलयं कर्तुमुद्युक्तौ जगतः सुतरंगिणौ । तदा भेर्यः समाजघ्नुरुभयोः सेनयोर्दृढाः २३। रणभेर्यः शंखनादाः श्रूयंते तत्र तत्र ह । हेषंते वाजिनस्तत्र गर्जंति द्विरदा भृशम् २४। हुं हुं कुर्वंति वीराग्र्या नदंति रथनेमयः । तत्र प्रकुपिताः शूराः सुबाहुबलदर्पिताः २५। छिंधि भिंधीति भाषंतो दृश्यंते बहवो रणे । एवंभूते रणोद्युक्ते सैन्ये शत्रुघ्नवैरिणोः २६। मुखसंस्थं सुकेतुं तं लक्ष्मीनिधिरुवाच ह । लक्ष्मीनिधिरुवाच। जनकस्य सुतं विद्धि लक्ष्मीनिधिरिति स्मृतम् २७। सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रकुशलं सर्वयुद्धविशारदम् । मुंचाश्वं रामचंद्रस्य सर्वदानवदंशितुः २८। नोचेन्मद्बाणनिर्भिन्नो यास्यसे यमसादनम् । इति ब्रुवंतं वीराग्र्यं सुकेतुः सहसा त्वरन् २९। सज्यं चापं विधायाशु बाणान्मुंचन्स्थिरोऽभवत् । ते बाणाः शितपर्वाणः स्वर्णपुंखाः समंततः ३०। दृश्यंते व्यापिनस्तत्र रणमध्ये सुदुर्भराः । तद्बाणजालं तरसा निहत्य । लक्ष्मीनिधिश्चापमथा ततज्यम् । विधाय तस्योरसि बाणषट्कं । मुमोच तीक्ष्णं शितपर्वशोभितम् ३१। तद्बाणाः सुभुजभ्रातुर्हृदयं संविदार्य च । गतास्ते भुवि दृश्यंते रुधिराक्ता मलीमसाः ३२। तद्बाणभिन्नहृदयः सुकेतुः कोपपूरितः । जघानशरविंशत्या तीक्ष्णया नतपर्वया ३३। उभौ बाणविभिन्नांगावुभौ क्षतजविप्लुतौ । सैनिकैः परिदृश्यंते किंशुकाविव पुष्पितौ ३४। मुंचंतौ बाणकोटीश्च संदधंतौ त्वरा शरान् । न केनापि विलक्ष्येते लघुहस्तौ महाबलौ ३५। कुंडलीकृत सच्चापौ वर्षंतौ बाणधारया । नवांबुदाविव दिवि शक्रनिर्देशकारिणौ ३६। तयोर्बाणा गजान्वाहान्नराञ्छूरान्विमस्तकान् । कुर्वंतः केवलं दृष्टा न च संधानमोक्षयोः ३७। पृथिवी सुभटैः पूर्णा सकिरीटैः सकुंडलैः । धनुर्बाणकरै रोषसंदष्टाधरयुग्मकैः ३८। तयोः प्रयुद्ध्यतोर्दर्पात्सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रवेदिनोः । युद्धं समभवद्घोरं देवविस्मापनं महत् ३९। संमर्दोऽभवदत्यंतं वीरकोटिविदारणः । न केनचित्क्वचिद्दृष्टं शरजालांतरेंऽबरम् ४०। तस्मिंस्तु समये लक्ष्मीनिधिर्वीरोऽरिमर्दनः । बाणांश्चापे समाधत्त वसुसंख्यान्दृढाञ्छितान् ४१। चतुर्भिस्तुरगान्वीरः सुकेतोरनयत्क्षयम् । एकेन ध्वजमत्युग्रं चिच्छेद तरसा हसन् ४२। एकेन सारथेः कायाच्छिरोभूमावपातयत् । एकेन चापं सगुणमच्छिनद्रोषपूरितः ४३। एकेन हृदि विव्याध सुकेतोर्वेगवान्नृपः । तत्कर्माद्भुतमुद्वीक्ष्य वीरा विस्मयमाययुः ४४। सच्छिन्नधन्वा विरथो हताश्वो हतसारथिः । महतीं स गदां धृत्वा योद्घुकामोऽभ्युपेयिवान् ४५। तमायांतं समालक्ष्य गदायुद्धविशारदम् । महत्या गदया युक्तं रथादवततार सः ४६। गदामादाय महतीं सर्वायसविनिर्मिताम् । जातरूपविचित्रांगीं सर्वशोभापुरस्कृताम् ४७। लक्ष्मीनिधिर्भृशं क्रुद्धः सुकेतोर्वक्षसि त्वरन् । ताडयामास हृदये गदां वज्राग्निसन्निभाम् ४८। गदया ताडितो वीरो नाकंपत महामुने । मदोन्मत्तो यथा दंती बालेन स्रग्भिराहतः ४९। उवाच तं स वीराग्र्यो नृपं लक्ष्मीनिधिं तदा । सहस्वैकं प्रहारं मे यदि शूरः परंतप ५०। इत्युक्त्वा ताडयामास ललाटे गदया भृशम् । गदया ताडितो भालेऽसृग्वमन्कुपितो भृशम् ५१। मूर्ध्नि तं ताडयामास गदया कालरूपया । सुकेतुरपि तं स्कंधे ताडयामास धर्मवित् ५२। एवं भृशं प्रकुपितौ गदायुद्धविशारदौ । गदायुद्धं प्रकुर्वाणौ परस्परजयैषिणौ ५३। अन्योन्याघातविमतौ परस्परवधोद्यतौ । न कोपि तत्र हीयेत न को जीयेत संयुगे ५४। मूर्ध्नि भाले तथा स्कंधे हृदि गात्रेषु सर्वतः । रुधिरौघ परिक्लिन्नौ महाबलपराक्रमौ ५५। तदा लक्ष्मीनिधिः क्रुद्धो गदामुद्यम्य वेगवान् । जगाम प्रबलं हंतुं हृदि राजानुजं बली ५६। तमायांतमथालोक्य स्वगदां महतीं दधत् । ययौ तं तरसा हंतुं राजभ्राता बलाद्बलम् ५७। गदां तेन विनिक्षिप्तां स्वकरे धृतवानयम् । तयैव गदया तस्य हृदि जघ्ने महाबलः ५८। स्वगदां तेन वै नीतां दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मीनिधिर्नृपः । बाहुयुद्धेन तं योद्धुमियेष बलवत्तमम् ५९। तदा राजानुजः क्रुद्धो बाहुभ्यामुपगृह्य तम् । युयुधे सर्वयुद्धस्य ज्ञातावीरेषु सत्तमः ६०। तदा लक्ष्मीनिधिस्तस्य हृदि जघ्ने स्वमुष्टिना । तदा सोपि शिरस्येनं मुष्टिमुद्यम्य चाहनत् ६१। मुष्टिभिर्वज्रसंकाशैस्तलस्फोटैश्च दारुणैः । अन्योन्यं जघ्नतुः क्रुद्धौ संदष्टाधरपल्लवौ ६२। मुष्टी मुष्टि दंता दंति कचा कचि नखा नखि । उभयोरभवद्युद्धं तुमुलं रोमहर्षणम् ६३। तदा प्रकुपितो भ्राता नृपतेश्च रणे नृपम् । गृहीत्वा भ्रामयित्वाथ पातयामास भूतले ६४। लक्ष्मीनिधिः करे गृह्य तं नृपानुजमुच्चकैः । भ्रामयित्वा शतगुणं गजोपस्थे जघान तम् ६५। स तदा पतितो भूमौ संज्ञां प्राप्य क्षणादनु । तथैव भ्रामयामास व्योम्नि वेगेन विक्रमी ६६। एवं प्रयुध्यमानौ तौ बाहुयुद्धं गतौ पुनः । पादे पादं करे पाणिं हृदि हृद्वदने मुखम् ६७। एवं परस्परं श्लिष्टौ परस्परवधैषिणौ । उभावपि पराक्रांतावुभावपि मुमूर्च्छतुः ६८। तद्दृष्ट्वा विस्मयं प्राप्ताः प्रशशंसुः सहस्रशः । धन्यो लक्ष्मीनिधिर्भूपो धन्यो राजानुजो बली ६९। इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे पातालखंडे शेषवात्स्यायनसंवादे रामाश्वमेधे गदायुद्धंनाम षड्विंशतितमोऽध्यायः २६ ।
śeṣa uvāca| śatrughnastadbalaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīṣaṇākṛtimeghavat | hastyaśvarathapādātairbahubhiḥ parivāritam 1| sumatiṃ pratyuvācedaṃ vacogaṃbhīraśabdayuk | nānāvākyavicārajñaiḥ paṃḍitaiḥ parisevitaḥ 2| śatrughna uvāca| sumate kasya nagaraṃ prāpto me hayasattamaḥ | balametannirīkṣehaṃ payodadhitaraṃgavat 3| kasyaitadbalamuddharṣaṃ caturaṃgasamanvitam | purato bhāti yuddhāya samupasthitamādarāt 4| etatsarvaṃ samācakṣva yathāvatpṛcchato mama | yajjñātvā yuddhasaṃsthāyai nirdiśāmi svakānbhaṭān 5| iti vākyaṃ samākarṇya sumatiḥ śubhabuddhimān | uvāca vacanaṃ prītaḥ śatrughnaṃ vairitāpanam 6| sumatiruvāca| cakrāṃkā nagarī rājanvartate savidhe śubhā | yasyāṃ saṃti narāḥ pāparahitā viṣṇubhaktitaḥ 7| tasyāḥ puryāḥ patirayaṃ subāhurdharmavittamaḥ | tavāyaṃ purato bhāti putrapautrasamāvṛtaḥ 8| svadāranirato nityaṃ paradāraparāṅmukhaḥ | viṣṇoḥ kathāsya karṇasthānā parārthaprakāśinī 9| parasvaṃ na samādatte ṣaṣṭhāṃśādadhikaṃ nṛpaḥ | brāhmaṇā viṣṇubhaktyaiva pūjyaṃte tena dharmiṇā 10| nityaṃ sevārato viṣṇupādapadmamadhuvrataḥ | eṣa svadharmanirataḥ paradharmaparāṅmukhaḥ 11| etasya balatulyaṃ hi na vīrāṇāṃ balaṃ kvacit | putrasya patanaṃ śrutvā roṣaśokasamākulaḥ 12| caturaṃgasameto'yaṃ yuddhāya samupasthitaḥ | tavāpi vīrā bahavo lakṣmīnidhimukhā amūn 13| jeṣyaṃti śastrasaṃghena nirdiśāśu paraṃ hi tān | śatrughnastadvacaḥ śrutvā provāca svabhaṭānvarān 14| raṇaprāptibhavoddharṣapūrapūritamānasān | krauṃcavyūho'dya racitaḥ subāhuparisainikaiḥ 15| mukhapakṣasthitā yodhāstānko bhetsyati śastravit | yasya bhede nijā śaktiryo vīra vijayodyataḥ 16| sa gṛhṇātu madīyāddhi pāṇipadmācca vīṭakam | tadā lakṣmīnidhirvīro jagrāha krauṃcabhedane 17| sarvaśastrāstravidvīrairbahubhiḥ parivāritaḥ | uvāca vacanaṃ rājanyāsye'haṃ krauṃcabhedane 18| bhārgavaḥ pūrvamevāsītkrauṃcabhettā tathā hyaham | tathānyaṃ vīramāvocatko'sya sārdhaṃ gamiṣyati 19| puṣkalaḥ pṛṣṭhatastasya yātuṃ cakre matiṃ tataḥ | riputāpo nīlaratna ugrāśvo vīramardanaḥ 20| sarve śatrughnasaṃdeśādyayustatkrauṃcabhedane | śatrughno'pi rathasthaśca sarvāyudhadharaḥ paraḥ 21| pṛṣṭhato'sya parīyāya bahubhiḥ sainikairvṛtaḥ | tadā pracalitau dṛṣṭāvanyonyabalavāridhī 22| pralayaṃ kartumudyuktau jagataḥ sutaraṃgiṇau | tadā bheryaḥ samājaghnurubhayoḥ senayordṛḍhāḥ 23| raṇabheryaḥ śaṃkhanādāḥ śrūyaṃte tatra tatra ha | heṣaṃte vājinastatra garjaṃti dviradā bhṛśam 24| huṃ huṃ kurvaṃti vīrāgryā nadaṃti rathanemayaḥ | tatra prakupitāḥ śūrāḥ subāhubaladarpitāḥ 25| chiṃdhi bhiṃdhīti bhāṣaṃto dṛśyaṃte bahavo raṇe | evaṃbhūte raṇodyukte sainye śatrughnavairiṇoḥ 26| mukhasaṃsthaṃ suketuṃ taṃ lakṣmīnidhiruvāca ha | lakṣmīnidhiruvāca| janakasya sutaṃ viddhi lakṣmīnidhiriti smṛtam 27| sarvaśastrāstrakuśalaṃ sarvayuddhaviśāradam | muṃcāśvaṃ rāmacaṃdrasya sarvadānavadaṃśituḥ 28| nocenmadbāṇanirbhinno yāsyase yamasādanam | iti bruvaṃtaṃ vīrāgryaṃ suketuḥ sahasā tvaran 29| sajyaṃ cāpaṃ vidhāyāśu bāṇānmuṃcansthiro'bhavat | te bāṇāḥ śitaparvāṇaḥ svarṇapuṃkhāḥ samaṃtataḥ 30| dṛśyaṃte vyāpinastatra raṇamadhye sudurbharāḥ | tadbāṇajālaṃ tarasā nihatya | lakṣmīnidhiścāpamathā tatajyam | vidhāya tasyorasi bāṇaṣaṭkaṃ | mumoca tīkṣṇaṃ śitaparvaśobhitam 31| tadbāṇāḥ subhujabhrāturhṛdayaṃ saṃvidārya ca | gatāste bhuvi dṛśyaṃte rudhirāktā malīmasāḥ 32| tadbāṇabhinnahṛdayaḥ suketuḥ kopapūritaḥ | jaghānaśaraviṃśatyā tīkṣṇayā nataparvayā 33| ubhau bāṇavibhinnāṃgāvubhau kṣatajaviplutau | sainikaiḥ paridṛśyaṃte kiṃśukāviva puṣpitau 34| muṃcaṃtau bāṇakoṭīśca saṃdadhaṃtau tvarā śarān | na kenāpi vilakṣyete laghuhastau mahābalau 35| kuṃḍalīkṛta saccāpau varṣaṃtau bāṇadhārayā | navāṃbudāviva divi śakranirdeśakāriṇau 36| tayorbāṇā gajānvāhānnarāñchūrānvimastakān | kurvaṃtaḥ kevalaṃ dṛṣṭā na ca saṃdhānamokṣayoḥ 37| pṛthivī subhaṭaiḥ pūrṇā sakirīṭaiḥ sakuṃḍalaiḥ | dhanurbāṇakarai roṣasaṃdaṣṭādharayugmakaiḥ 38| tayoḥ prayuddhyatordarpātsarvaśastrāstravedinoḥ | yuddhaṃ samabhavadghoraṃ devavismāpanaṃ mahat 39| saṃmardo'bhavadatyaṃtaṃ vīrakoṭividāraṇaḥ | na kenacitkvaciddṛṣṭaṃ śarajālāṃtareṃ'baram 40| tasmiṃstu samaye lakṣmīnidhirvīro'rimardanaḥ | bāṇāṃścāpe samādhatta vasusaṃkhyāndṛḍhāñchitān 41| caturbhisturagānvīraḥ suketoranayatkṣayam | ekena dhvajamatyugraṃ ciccheda tarasā hasan 42| ekena sāratheḥ kāyācchirobhūmāvapātayat | ekena cāpaṃ saguṇamacchinadroṣapūritaḥ 43| ekena hṛdi vivyādha suketorvegavānnṛpaḥ | tatkarmādbhutamudvīkṣya vīrā vismayamāyayuḥ 44| sacchinnadhanvā viratho hatāśvo hatasārathiḥ | mahatīṃ sa gadāṃ dhṛtvā yodghukāmo'bhyupeyivān 45| tamāyāṃtaṃ samālakṣya gadāyuddhaviśāradam | mahatyā gadayā yuktaṃ rathādavatatāra saḥ 46| gadāmādāya mahatīṃ sarvāyasavinirmitām | jātarūpavicitrāṃgīṃ sarvaśobhāpuraskṛtām 47| lakṣmīnidhirbhṛśaṃ kruddhaḥ suketorvakṣasi tvaran | tāḍayāmāsa hṛdaye gadāṃ vajrāgnisannibhām 48| gadayā tāḍito vīro nākaṃpata mahāmune | madonmatto yathā daṃtī bālena sragbhirāhataḥ 49| uvāca taṃ sa vīrāgryo nṛpaṃ lakṣmīnidhiṃ tadā | sahasvaikaṃ prahāraṃ me yadi śūraḥ paraṃtapa 50| ityuktvā tāḍayāmāsa lalāṭe gadayā bhṛśam | gadayā tāḍito bhāle'sṛgvamankupito bhṛśam 51| mūrdhni taṃ tāḍayāmāsa gadayā kālarūpayā | suketurapi taṃ skaṃdhe tāḍayāmāsa dharmavit 52| evaṃ bhṛśaṃ prakupitau gadāyuddhaviśāradau | gadāyuddhaṃ prakurvāṇau parasparajayaiṣiṇau 53| anyonyāghātavimatau parasparavadhodyatau | na kopi tatra hīyeta na ko jīyeta saṃyuge 54| mūrdhni bhāle tathā skaṃdhe hṛdi gātreṣu sarvataḥ | rudhiraugha pariklinnau mahābalaparākramau 55| tadā lakṣmīnidhiḥ kruddho gadāmudyamya vegavān | jagāma prabalaṃ haṃtuṃ hṛdi rājānujaṃ balī 56| tamāyāṃtamathālokya svagadāṃ mahatīṃ dadhat | yayau taṃ tarasā haṃtuṃ rājabhrātā balādbalam 57| gadāṃ tena vinikṣiptāṃ svakare dhṛtavānayam | tayaiva gadayā tasya hṛdi jaghne mahābalaḥ 58| svagadāṃ tena vai nītāṃ dṛṣṭvā lakṣmīnidhirnṛpaḥ | bāhuyuddhena taṃ yoddhumiyeṣa balavattamam 59| tadā rājānujaḥ kruddho bāhubhyāmupagṛhya tam | yuyudhe sarvayuddhasya jñātāvīreṣu sattamaḥ 60| tadā lakṣmīnidhistasya hṛdi jaghne svamuṣṭinā | tadā sopi śirasyenaṃ muṣṭimudyamya cāhanat 61| muṣṭibhirvajrasaṃkāśaistalasphoṭaiśca dāruṇaiḥ | anyonyaṃ jaghnatuḥ kruddhau saṃdaṣṭādharapallavau 62| muṣṭī muṣṭi daṃtā daṃti kacā kaci nakhā nakhi | ubhayorabhavadyuddhaṃ tumulaṃ romaharṣaṇam 63| tadā prakupito bhrātā nṛpateśca raṇe nṛpam | gṛhītvā bhrāmayitvātha pātayāmāsa bhūtale 64| lakṣmīnidhiḥ kare gṛhya taṃ nṛpānujamuccakaiḥ | bhrāmayitvā śataguṇaṃ gajopasthe jaghāna tam 65| sa tadā patito bhūmau saṃjñāṃ prāpya kṣaṇādanu | tathaiva bhrāmayāmāsa vyomni vegena vikramī 66| evaṃ prayudhyamānau tau bāhuyuddhaṃ gatau punaḥ | pāde pādaṃ kare pāṇiṃ hṛdi hṛdvadane mukham 67| evaṃ parasparaṃ śliṣṭau parasparavadhaiṣiṇau | ubhāvapi parākrāṃtāvubhāvapi mumūrcchatuḥ 68| taddṛṣṭvā vismayaṃ prāptāḥ praśaśaṃsuḥ sahasraśaḥ | dhanyo lakṣmīnidhirbhūpo dhanyo rājānujo balī 69| iti śrīpadmapurāṇe pātālakhaṃḍe śeṣavātsyāyanasaṃvāde rāmāśvamedhe gadāyuddhaṃnāma ṣaḍviṃśatitamo'dhyāyaḥ 26 |
English translation
Śeṣa said :
1-2. Seeing that army like a cloud of a fearful size, and surrounded by many elephants, horses, chariots and foot-soldiers, Śatrughna spoke thus to Sumati in serious words. Waited upon by learned men knowing many words and ideas.
Śatrughna said :
3-6. O Sumati, whose city has reached my best horse? I see this army resembling the ripples of an ocean. Whose army is this which is endowed with four divisions, is very joyful, and appears before (me) standing with eagerness to fight? Properly tell all this to me who am asking you, knowing which I shall order my soldiers to take position for the fight.
Hearing these words, Sumati, of an auspicious mind, being pleased, said to Śatrughna, the tormentor of his enemies.
Sumati said :
7-11. O king, in the vicinity there is an auspicious city (called) Cakrāṅkā, in which there are sinless persons due to their devotion to Viṣṇu . This Subāhu , most familiar with the religious law, and the lord of that city, is present, surrounded by sons and grandsons, before you. He is always attached to his own wife and is averse to another man’s wife. Viṣṇu’s story revealing the highest object, dwells in his ears. The king does not take more than a sixth part of the wealth of another person (i.e. any person is his kingdom). He, the religious one, worships brāhmaṇas with the same devotion with which he worships Viṣṇu Having the vow (of drinking) the honey from the lotuses of the feet of Viṣṇu, he is always engaged in serving him. He is devoted to his own duty; he is averse to another’s way of life.
12-14a. The army of no other heroes is like his army. Hearing about the defeat of his son, he, being full of grief and endowed with his four-divisioned army, he is present (here) to fight. You also have these many heroes like Lakṣmīnidhi. With the host of their weapons, they will conquer the enemy. Order them who are well-disposed to you.
14b-21a. Hearing those words, Śatrughna said to his excellent heroes whose minds were full of great joy due to the battle having come near: “Subāhu’s soldiers have today arranged the Krauñca array. His heroes have taken position at its opening and sides. Who, knowing (the use of) weapons, will break through it? He who has the power to break through it, or is eager for victory should take up this gauntlet from my lotus-like hand.” Then the hero Lakṣmīnidhi took up (the gauntlet) to break the Krauñca(-array). He, surrounded by many heroes, knowing (the use of) all weapons and missiles, said (these) words: “O king, I shall go to break through the Krauñca(-array). Formerly, Bhārgava (i.e. Paraśurāma ) broke through the Krauñca(-mountain). (Now) I (shall do) like (him).” Then he said to another hero: “Who will go with him?” Then Puṣkala made up his mind to go after him. Riputāpa, Nalaratna, Ugrāśva, Vīramardana—all (these) went by Śatrughna’s order to break through the Krauñca(-array).
21b-27a. Great Śatrughna, seated in a chariot, having all (kinds of) weapons, and surrounded by many soldiers, followed him. At that time the two oceans with big waves and ready to destroy the world appeared to be agitated. Then big kettledrums from both armies were beaten. At every place were heard the war-drums and sounds of conches. The horses neighed and the elephants trumpeted very much. The best heroes gave out ‘hum’ sounds. The fellies of the chariot-wheels made a sound. There on the battlefield many angry warriors who were brave and very proud of the might of their arms were seen saying (to one another): “Cut (him off); break (him).” When both the armies of Śatrughna and his enemy were thus ready to fight, Lakṣmīnidhi said to Suketu who was at the opening (of the array):
Lakṣmīnidhi said :
27b-31a. Know me to be the son of Janaka , known as Lakṣmīnidhi, skilled in (the use of) all weapons and missiles, and proficient in fighting. Release the horse of Rāmacandra , the destroyer of all demons. Otherwise, pierced by my arrows you will go to Yama ’s abode.
Hastening suddenly to the best hero who was speaking like this, Suketu made his bow ready and discharging arrows quickly became steady. Those arrows had sharp joints; had their feathered parts made of gold; they were difficult to be put up with; they were seen to pervade (everything) in the battle.
31b-40. Having speedily destroyed that volley of arrows, Lakṣmīnidhi stretched his bow and discharged at his chest six sharp arrows charming with whetted joints. Those arrows were seen to have gone down to the earth after having pierced the heart of the brother of the strong-armed one; they were smeared with blood and were stained. With his chest pierced by his arrows, Suketu, who was full of anger, struck him with twenty sharp arrows with their joints curved. Both were seen by the soldiers to have their bodies pierced with arrows, covered with blood like the kiṃśuka (trees) full of flowers. The two who were discharging crores of arrows, who were fixing (on their bows)quickly(-going) arrows, who were dexterous and mighty, were (i.e. could) not (be) distinguished by any one. They had coiled (i.e. bent) their good bows, they were showering (their enemy) with the stream of arrows, and were like new clouds executing Indra ’s order. Their arrows were just seen to behead elephants, horses and brave men, but were not seen when they were fixed on the bow or discharged. By them having bows and arrows in their hands and biting their lips through anger, the earth was filled with great warriors having diadems and rings. Between the two, knowing (the use of) all weapons and missiles, and fighting proudly, a fierce, great battle, causing wonder (even) to the gods, took place. A great battle, piercing crores of warriors, took place. Nobody at no place saw (i.e. could see) the sky in (i.e. due to) the net of arrows.
41-63a. At that time brave Lakṣmīnidhi who destroyed his enemies, fixed sharp, strong arrows, eight in number, on his bow. With four arrows the hero killed the horses of Suketu; and laughing he quickly cut off the very lofty flag (of his chariot). With one he knocked down on the ground the charioteer’s bead from his body. He, full of anger, cut off, with one (arrow) the (enemy’s) bow along with the string. The swift king, with one (arrow) pierced the chest of Suketu. Seeing that wonderful deed, heroes were astonished. (Suketu) whose bow was cut off, who was without a chariot, whose horses and charioteer were killed, took up a big mace and approached (his enemy) with a desire to fight. Seeing him, skilled in mace-fighting, to have approached, he got down with a mace (in his hand) from (his) chariot. Lakṣmīnidhi, who was very angry, took a big mace fully made of iron and variegated with gold (i.e. bright) and full of all charm, hastily struck that mace resembling the fire of the thunderbolt on the chest (of Suketu). O great sage, that hero (though) struck by the mace, did not shake like an intoxicated elephant struck with garlands by a child. Then that best hero said to Lakṣmīnidhi: “O you tormentor of the enemies, if you are brave, (then) put up with one stroke of my mace.” Saying so, he heavily struck on his forehead with the mace. Being struck on the forehead with the mace, he vomitted blood, and was very angry, and struck on his head with the mace of the nature of death (i.e. the fatal mace). Suketu, knowing the ways of the world, also struck him on (his) shoulder. Thus the two, skilled in mace-fighting, being very much angry, fighting with maces, desiring to conquer each other, avoiding each other’s strokes, were intent upon killing each other. In that war nobody would lose and nobody would win. The two very mighty and brave ones were wet with streams of blood on (i.e. flowing from) the head, the forehead, the shoulder, the chest, and all the limbs. Then Lakṣmīnidhi, getting angry, raised his mace speedily and he, the powerful one, went (forward) to strike the powerful younger brother of the king on his chest. Then the king’s brother, seeing him coming, held his great mace, and went all of a sudden to kill him from (his) army to (Lakṣmīnidhi’s) army. This one held (i.e. caught) in his hand the mace hurled by him; (and) the very powerful one struck him with the same mace. Then king Lakṣmīnidhi, seeing that he had taken (i.e. caught) his mace, desired to have hand-to-hand fight with the strongest one. Then the king’s younger brother who was angry, who knew (i.e. proficient in) fighting of all kinds, and who was the best among the heroes, seized him with his arms. Then Lakṣmīnidhi struck on his chest with his fist. Then he too, raising his fist, struck him on his head. The two who were angry and were biting their bud-like lips, struck each other with terrible slaps with the hands resembling the thunderbolt. They indulged in boxing; they bit each other with their teeth; they seized each other’s hair; they scratched each other with their nails.
63b-69. Thus the fight between the two was fierce and horripilating. Then the angry brother of the king seized the king’s foot, swung him round and threw him on the ground. Lakṣmīnidhi seized the hand of the king’s younger brother and swinging him round for a hundred times high up (in the air), overthrew him on the hip of the elephant. Then he fell on the ground; and then in a moment regaining consciousness, the brave one in the same way speedily whirled him in the sky (i.e. in the air). Then the two, who were fighting, again indulged in boxing. The two, desiring to kill each other, clung to each other-one’s foot on the other’s foot, seizing the hand (of the enemy) with his own hand, chest with chest, and mouth with mouth. Both were very valourous, both swooned. Seeing that (men) in thousands were amazed and praised (them): “O king Lakṣmīnidhi is blessed; blessed is the mighty younger brother of the king!”
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 43686, revision 335923 (2022-04-16T15:10:04Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365337.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.