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Pātāla-khaṇḍa · Chapter 33

Chapter 33

Unit 328 of 693Pātāla-khaṇḍa · Chapter 33Pātāla-khaṇḍa · Chapter 331 source entries

Pātāla-khaṇḍa · Chapter 33

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शेष उवाच। गच्छत्सु रथिवर्येषु शत्रुघ्नादिषु भूरिषु । महाराजेषु सर्वेषु रथकोटियुतेषु च १। अकस्मादभवन्मार्गे तमः परमदारुणम् । यस्मिन्स्वीयो न पारक्यो लक्ष्यते ज्ञातिभिर्नरैः २। रजसा व्यावृतं व्योम विद्युत्स्तनितसंकुलम् । एतादृशे तु संमर्दे महाभयकरे ततः ३। मेघा वर्षंति रुधिरं पूयामेध्यादिकं बहु । अत्याकुला बभूवुस्ते वीराः परमवैरिणः ४। आकुलीकृतलोके तु किमिदं किमिति स्थितिः । तमोव्याप्तानि लोकानां चक्षूंषि प्रथितौजसाम् ५। जहाराश्वं रावणस्य सुहृत्पातालसंस्थितः । विद्युन्मालीति विख्यातो राक्षसश्रेणिसंवृतः ६। कामगे सुविमाने तु सर्वायसनिषेविणि । आरूढोऽश्वं तु वीराणां भयं कुर्वञ्जहार ह ७। मुहूर्तात्तत्तमो नष्टमाकाशं विमलं बभौ । वीराः शत्रुघ्नमुख्यास्ते प्रोचुः कुत्र हयोऽस्ति सः ८। ते सर्वे हयराजं तु लोकयंतः परस्परम् । ददृशुर्न यदा वाहं हाहाकारस्तदाभवत् ९। कुत्राश्वो हयमेधस्य केन नीतः कुबुद्धिना । इति वाचमवोचंस्ते तावत्स दनुजेश्वरः १०। ददृशे सुभटैः सर्वै रथस्थैः शौर्यशोभितैः । विमानवरमारूढै राक्षसाग्र्यैः समावृतः ११। दुमुर्खा विकरालास्या लंबदंष्ट्रा भयानकाः । राक्षसास्तत्र दृश्यंते सैन्यग्रासाय चोद्यताः १२। तदा तं वेदयामासुः शत्रुघ्नं नृवरोत्तमम् । हयो नीतो न जानीमः खे विमानविलासिना १३। तमसा व्याकुलान्कृत्वा वीरानस्मान्समाययौ । जग्राह नृपशार्दूल हयं कुरु यथोचितम् १४। शत्रुघ्नस्तद्वचः श्रुत्वा महारोषसमावृतः । कोऽस्त्येष राक्षसो यो मे हयं जग्राह वीर्यवान् १५। विमानं तत्पतत्वद्य मद्बाणव्रजनिर्हतम् । पतत्वद्य शिरस्तस्य क्षुरप्रैर्मम वैरिणः १६। सज्जीयंतां रथाः सर्वैर्महाशस्त्रास्त्रपूरिताः । यांतु तं प्रतिसंहर्तुं योद्धारो वाजिहारिणम् १७। इत्युक्त्वा रोषताम्राक्ष उवाच निजमंत्रिणम् । नयानयविदं शूरं युद्धकार्यविशारदम् १८। शत्रुघ्न उवाच। मंत्रिन्कथय के योज्या राक्षसस्य वधोद्यताः । महाशस्त्रा महाशूराः परमास्त्रविदुत्तमाः १९। कथयाशु विचार्यैवं तत्करोमि भवद्वचः । वीरान्कथय तस्यैवं योग्यान्सर्वास्त्रकोविदान् २०। एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु सचिवः प्राह वाक्यं यथोचितम् । वीरान्रणवरे योग्यान्दर्शयंस्तरसा नतान् २१। सुमतिरुवाच। जेतुं गच्छतु तद्रक्षः समरे विजयोद्यतः । महाशस्त्रास्त्रसंयुक्तः पुष्कलः परतापनः २२। तथा लक्ष्मीनिधिर्यातु शस्त्रसंघसमन्वितः । करोतु तस्य यानस्य भंगं तीक्ष्णैः स्वसायकैः २३। हनूमान्धृष्टकर्मात्र राक्षसैर्योधितुं क्षमः । करोतु मुखपुच्छाभ्यां ताडनं रक्षसां प्रभो २४। वानरा अपि ये वीरा रणकर्मविशारदाः । गच्छंतु तेऽखिला योद्धुं तववाक्यप्रणोदिताः २५। सुमदश्च सुबाहुश्च प्रतापाग्र्यश्च सत्तमाः । गच्छंतु सायकैस्तीक्ष्णैस्तान्योद्धुं राक्षसाधमान् २६। भवानपि महाशस्त्रपरिवारो रथे स्थितः । करोतु युद्धे विजयं राक्षसं हंतुमुद्यतः २७। एतन्मम मतं राजन्ये योधास्तत्प्रमर्दनाः । ते गच्छंतु रणे शूराः किमन्यैर्बहुभिर्भटैः २८। इत्युक्तवति वीराग्र्येऽमात्ये सुमतिसंज्ञिके । शत्रुघ्नः कथयामास वीरान्संग्रामकोविदान् २९। भो वीराः पुष्कलाद्या ये सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रकोविदाः । ते वदंतु प्रतिज्ञां वै मत्पुरो राक्षसार्दने ३०। कृत्वा प्रतिज्ञां विपुलां स्वपराक्रमशोभिनीम् । गच्छंतु रणमध्ये हि भवंतो बलसंयुताः ३१। इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य शत्रुघ्नस्य महाबलाः । स्वां स्वां प्रतिज्ञां महतीं चक्रुस्ते तेजसान्विताः ३२। तत्रादौ पुष्कलो वीरः श्रुत्वा वाक्यं महीपतेः । परमोत्साहसंपन्नः प्रतिज्ञामूचिवानिमाम् ३३। पुष्कल उवाच। शृणुष्व नृपशार्दूल मत्प्रतिज्ञां पराक्रमात् । विहितां सर्वलोकानां शृण्वतां परमाद्भुताम् ३४। चेन्न कुर्यां क्षुरप्राग्रैस्तीक्ष्णैः कोदंडनिर्गतैः । दैत्यं मूर्च्छासमाक्रांतं कीर्णकेशाकुलाननम् ३५। कन्या स्वभोक्तुर्यत्पापं यत्पापं देवनिंदने । तत्पापं मम वै भूयाच्चेत्कुर्यां स्ववचोऽनृतम् ३६। यदिमद्बाणनिर्भिन्नाः सैनिकाः सुमहाबलाः । न पतंति महाराज प्रतिज्ञां तत्र मे शृणु ३७। विष्ण्वीशयोर्विभेदं यः शिवशक्त्योः करोत्यपि । तत्पापं मम वै भूयाच्चेन्न कुर्यामृतं वचः ३८। सर्वं मद्वाक्यमित्युक्तं रघुनाथपदांबुजे । भक्तिर्मे निश्चला यास्ति सैव सत्यं करिष्यति ३९। पुष्कलस्य प्रतिज्ञां तां श्रुत्वा लक्ष्मीनिधिर्नृपः । प्रतिज्ञां व्यदधात्सत्यां स्वपराक्रमशोभिताम् ४०। लक्ष्मीनिधिरुवाच। वेदानां निंदनं श्रुत्वा आस्ते यो मौनिवन्नरः । मानसे रोचयेद्यस्तु सर्वधर्मबहिष्कृतः ४१। ब्राह्मणो यो दुराचारो रसलाक्षादिविक्रयी । विक्रीणाति च गां मूढो धनलोभेन मोहितः ४२। म्लेच्छकूपोदकं पीत्वा प्रायश्चित्तं तु नाचरेत् । तत्पापं मम वै भूयाद्विमुखश्चेद्भवाम्यहम् ४३। तत्प्रतिज्ञामथाश्रुत्य हनूमान्रणकोविदः । रामांघ्रिस्मरणं कृत्वा प्रोवाच वचनं शुभम् ४४। मत्स्वामीहृदये नित्यं ध्येयो वै योगिभिर्मुहुः । यं देवाः सासुराः सर्वे नमंति मणिमौलिभिः ४५। रामः श्रीमानयोध्यायाः पतिर्लोकेशपूजितः । तं स्मृत्वा यद्ब्रुवे वाक्यं तद्वै सत्यं भवष्यिति ४६। राजन्कोयं लघुर्दैत्यो दुर्बलः कामगे स्थितः । कथयाशु मया कार्यमेकेन विनिपातनम् ४७। मेरुं देवेंद्रसहितं लांगूलाग्रेण तोलये । जलधिं शोषये सर्वं सांवर्तं वा पिबाम्यहम् ४८। राज्ञः श्रीरघुनाथस्य जानक्याः कृपया मम । तन्नास्ति भूतले राजन्यदसाध्यं कदा भवेत् ४९। एतद्वाक्यं मया प्रोक्तमनृतं स्याद्यदि प्रभो । तदैव रघुनाथस्य भक्तिदूरो भवाम्यहम् ५०। यः शूद्रः कपिलां गां वै पयोबुद्ध्यानुपालयेत् । तस्य पापं ममैवास्तु चेत्कुर्यामनृतं वचः ५१। ब्राह्मणीं गच्छते मोहाच्छूद्रः कामविमोहितः । तस्य पापं ममैवास्तु चेत्कुर्यामनृतं वचः ५२। यद्घ्राणान्नरकं गच्छेत्स्पर्शनाच्चापि रौरवम् । तां पिबेन्मदिरां यो वा जिह्वास्वादेन लोलुपः ५३। तस्य यज्जायते पापं तन्ममैवास्तु निश्चितम् । चेन्न कुर्यां प्रतिज्ञातं सत्यं रामकृपाबलात् ५४। एवमुक्ते महावीरैर्योद्धारस्तरसा युताः । चक्रुः प्रतिज्ञां महतीं स्वपराक्रमशालिनीम् ५५। शत्रुघ्नोऽपि व्यधात्तत्र प्रतिज्ञां पश्यतां नृणाम् । साधुसाधु प्रशंसन्वै तान्वीरान्युद्धकोविदान् ५६। कथयामि पुरो वः स्वां प्रतिज्ञां सत्त्वशोभिताम् । तच्छृण्वंतु महाभागा युद्धोत्साहसमन्विताः ५७। चेत्तस्य शिर आहत्य पातयामि न सायकैः । विमानाच्च कबंधाच्च भिन्नं छिन्नं च भूतले ५८। यत्पापं कूटसाक्ष्येण यत्पापं स्वर्णचौर्यतः । यत्पापं ब्रह्मनिंदायां तन्ममास्त्वद्य निश्चयात् ५९। इति शत्रुघ्नसद्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा ते वीरपूजिताः । धन्योसि राघवभ्रातः कस्त्वदन्यो परो भवेत् ६०। त्वया वै निहतो दैत्यो देवदानवदुःखदः । लवणो नाम लोकेश मधुपुत्रो महाबलः ६१। कोयं वै राक्षसो दुष्टः क्व चास्य बलमल्पकम् । करिष्यसि क्षणादेव तस्य नाशं महामते ६२। इत्युक्त्वा ते महावीराः सज्जीभूता रणांगणे । प्रतिज्ञां स्वामृतां कर्तुं ययुस्ते राक्षसं मुदा ६३। इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे पातालखंडे शेषवात्स्यायनसंवादे रामाश्वमेधे वीरप्रतिज्ञाकथनंनाम त्रयस्त्रिंशत्तमोऽध्यायः ३३ ।

śeṣa uvāca| gacchatsu rathivaryeṣu śatrughnādiṣu bhūriṣu | mahārājeṣu sarveṣu rathakoṭiyuteṣu ca 1| akasmādabhavanmārge tamaḥ paramadāruṇam | yasminsvīyo na pārakyo lakṣyate jñātibhirnaraiḥ 2| rajasā vyāvṛtaṃ vyoma vidyutstanitasaṃkulam | etādṛśe tu saṃmarde mahābhayakare tataḥ 3| meghā varṣaṃti rudhiraṃ pūyāmedhyādikaṃ bahu | atyākulā babhūvuste vīrāḥ paramavairiṇaḥ 4| ākulīkṛtaloke tu kimidaṃ kimiti sthitiḥ | tamovyāptāni lokānāṃ cakṣūṃṣi prathitaujasām 5| jahārāśvaṃ rāvaṇasya suhṛtpātālasaṃsthitaḥ | vidyunmālīti vikhyāto rākṣasaśreṇisaṃvṛtaḥ 6| kāmage suvimāne tu sarvāyasaniṣeviṇi | ārūḍho'śvaṃ tu vīrāṇāṃ bhayaṃ kurvañjahāra ha 7| muhūrtāttattamo naṣṭamākāśaṃ vimalaṃ babhau | vīrāḥ śatrughnamukhyāste procuḥ kutra hayo'sti saḥ 8| te sarve hayarājaṃ tu lokayaṃtaḥ parasparam | dadṛśurna yadā vāhaṃ hāhākārastadābhavat 9| kutrāśvo hayamedhasya kena nītaḥ kubuddhinā | iti vācamavocaṃste tāvatsa danujeśvaraḥ 10| dadṛśe subhaṭaiḥ sarvai rathasthaiḥ śauryaśobhitaiḥ | vimānavaramārūḍhai rākṣasāgryaiḥ samāvṛtaḥ 11| dumurkhā vikarālāsyā laṃbadaṃṣṭrā bhayānakāḥ | rākṣasāstatra dṛśyaṃte sainyagrāsāya codyatāḥ 12| tadā taṃ vedayāmāsuḥ śatrughnaṃ nṛvarottamam | hayo nīto na jānīmaḥ khe vimānavilāsinā 13| tamasā vyākulānkṛtvā vīrānasmānsamāyayau | jagrāha nṛpaśārdūla hayaṃ kuru yathocitam 14| śatrughnastadvacaḥ śrutvā mahāroṣasamāvṛtaḥ | ko'styeṣa rākṣaso yo me hayaṃ jagrāha vīryavān 15| vimānaṃ tatpatatvadya madbāṇavrajanirhatam | patatvadya śirastasya kṣuraprairmama vairiṇaḥ 16| sajjīyaṃtāṃ rathāḥ sarvairmahāśastrāstrapūritāḥ | yāṃtu taṃ pratisaṃhartuṃ yoddhāro vājihāriṇam 17| ityuktvā roṣatāmrākṣa uvāca nijamaṃtriṇam | nayānayavidaṃ śūraṃ yuddhakāryaviśāradam 18| śatrughna uvāca| maṃtrinkathaya ke yojyā rākṣasasya vadhodyatāḥ | mahāśastrā mahāśūrāḥ paramāstraviduttamāḥ 19| kathayāśu vicāryaivaṃ tatkaromi bhavadvacaḥ | vīrānkathaya tasyaivaṃ yogyānsarvāstrakovidān 20| etacchrutvā tu sacivaḥ prāha vākyaṃ yathocitam | vīrānraṇavare yogyāndarśayaṃstarasā natān 21| sumatiruvāca| jetuṃ gacchatu tadrakṣaḥ samare vijayodyataḥ | mahāśastrāstrasaṃyuktaḥ puṣkalaḥ paratāpanaḥ 22| tathā lakṣmīnidhiryātu śastrasaṃghasamanvitaḥ | karotu tasya yānasya bhaṃgaṃ tīkṣṇaiḥ svasāyakaiḥ 23| hanūmāndhṛṣṭakarmātra rākṣasairyodhituṃ kṣamaḥ | karotu mukhapucchābhyāṃ tāḍanaṃ rakṣasāṃ prabho 24| vānarā api ye vīrā raṇakarmaviśāradāḥ | gacchaṃtu te'khilā yoddhuṃ tavavākyapraṇoditāḥ 25| sumadaśca subāhuśca pratāpāgryaśca sattamāḥ | gacchaṃtu sāyakaistīkṣṇaistānyoddhuṃ rākṣasādhamān 26| bhavānapi mahāśastraparivāro rathe sthitaḥ | karotu yuddhe vijayaṃ rākṣasaṃ haṃtumudyataḥ 27| etanmama mataṃ rājanye yodhāstatpramardanāḥ | te gacchaṃtu raṇe śūrāḥ kimanyairbahubhirbhaṭaiḥ 28| ityuktavati vīrāgrye'mātye sumatisaṃjñike | śatrughnaḥ kathayāmāsa vīrānsaṃgrāmakovidān 29| bho vīrāḥ puṣkalādyā ye sarvaśastrāstrakovidāḥ | te vadaṃtu pratijñāṃ vai matpuro rākṣasārdane 30| kṛtvā pratijñāṃ vipulāṃ svaparākramaśobhinīm | gacchaṃtu raṇamadhye hi bhavaṃto balasaṃyutāḥ 31| iti vākyaṃ samākarṇya śatrughnasya mahābalāḥ | svāṃ svāṃ pratijñāṃ mahatīṃ cakruste tejasānvitāḥ 32| tatrādau puṣkalo vīraḥ śrutvā vākyaṃ mahīpateḥ | paramotsāhasaṃpannaḥ pratijñāmūcivānimām 33| puṣkala uvāca| śṛṇuṣva nṛpaśārdūla matpratijñāṃ parākramāt | vihitāṃ sarvalokānāṃ śṛṇvatāṃ paramādbhutām 34| cenna kuryāṃ kṣuraprāgraistīkṣṇaiḥ kodaṃḍanirgataiḥ | daityaṃ mūrcchāsamākrāṃtaṃ kīrṇakeśākulānanam 35| kanyā svabhokturyatpāpaṃ yatpāpaṃ devaniṃdane | tatpāpaṃ mama vai bhūyāccetkuryāṃ svavaco'nṛtam 36| yadimadbāṇanirbhinnāḥ sainikāḥ sumahābalāḥ | na pataṃti mahārāja pratijñāṃ tatra me śṛṇu 37| viṣṇvīśayorvibhedaṃ yaḥ śivaśaktyoḥ karotyapi | tatpāpaṃ mama vai bhūyāccenna kuryāmṛtaṃ vacaḥ 38| sarvaṃ madvākyamityuktaṃ raghunāthapadāṃbuje | bhaktirme niścalā yāsti saiva satyaṃ kariṣyati 39| puṣkalasya pratijñāṃ tāṃ śrutvā lakṣmīnidhirnṛpaḥ | pratijñāṃ vyadadhātsatyāṃ svaparākramaśobhitām 40| lakṣmīnidhiruvāca| vedānāṃ niṃdanaṃ śrutvā āste yo maunivannaraḥ | mānase rocayedyastu sarvadharmabahiṣkṛtaḥ 41| brāhmaṇo yo durācāro rasalākṣādivikrayī | vikrīṇāti ca gāṃ mūḍho dhanalobhena mohitaḥ 42| mlecchakūpodakaṃ pītvā prāyaścittaṃ tu nācaret | tatpāpaṃ mama vai bhūyādvimukhaścedbhavāmyaham 43| tatpratijñāmathāśrutya hanūmānraṇakovidaḥ | rāmāṃghrismaraṇaṃ kṛtvā provāca vacanaṃ śubham 44| matsvāmīhṛdaye nityaṃ dhyeyo vai yogibhirmuhuḥ | yaṃ devāḥ sāsurāḥ sarve namaṃti maṇimaulibhiḥ 45| rāmaḥ śrīmānayodhyāyāḥ patirlokeśapūjitaḥ | taṃ smṛtvā yadbruve vākyaṃ tadvai satyaṃ bhavaṣyiti 46| rājankoyaṃ laghurdaityo durbalaḥ kāmage sthitaḥ | kathayāśu mayā kāryamekena vinipātanam 47| meruṃ deveṃdrasahitaṃ lāṃgūlāgreṇa tolaye | jaladhiṃ śoṣaye sarvaṃ sāṃvartaṃ vā pibāmyaham 48| rājñaḥ śrīraghunāthasya jānakyāḥ kṛpayā mama | tannāsti bhūtale rājanyadasādhyaṃ kadā bhavet 49| etadvākyaṃ mayā proktamanṛtaṃ syādyadi prabho | tadaiva raghunāthasya bhaktidūro bhavāmyaham 50| yaḥ śūdraḥ kapilāṃ gāṃ vai payobuddhyānupālayet | tasya pāpaṃ mamaivāstu cetkuryāmanṛtaṃ vacaḥ 51| brāhmaṇīṃ gacchate mohācchūdraḥ kāmavimohitaḥ | tasya pāpaṃ mamaivāstu cetkuryāmanṛtaṃ vacaḥ 52| yadghrāṇānnarakaṃ gacchetsparśanāccāpi rauravam | tāṃ pibenmadirāṃ yo vā jihvāsvādena lolupaḥ 53| tasya yajjāyate pāpaṃ tanmamaivāstu niścitam | cenna kuryāṃ pratijñātaṃ satyaṃ rāmakṛpābalāt 54| evamukte mahāvīrairyoddhārastarasā yutāḥ | cakruḥ pratijñāṃ mahatīṃ svaparākramaśālinīm 55| śatrughno'pi vyadhāttatra pratijñāṃ paśyatāṃ nṛṇām | sādhusādhu praśaṃsanvai tānvīrānyuddhakovidān 56| kathayāmi puro vaḥ svāṃ pratijñāṃ sattvaśobhitām | tacchṛṇvaṃtu mahābhāgā yuddhotsāhasamanvitāḥ 57| cettasya śira āhatya pātayāmi na sāyakaiḥ | vimānācca kabaṃdhācca bhinnaṃ chinnaṃ ca bhūtale 58| yatpāpaṃ kūṭasākṣyeṇa yatpāpaṃ svarṇacauryataḥ | yatpāpaṃ brahmaniṃdāyāṃ tanmamāstvadya niścayāt 59| iti śatrughnasadvākyaṃ śrutvā te vīrapūjitāḥ | dhanyosi rāghavabhrātaḥ kastvadanyo paro bhavet 60| tvayā vai nihato daityo devadānavaduḥkhadaḥ | lavaṇo nāma lokeśa madhuputro mahābalaḥ 61| koyaṃ vai rākṣaso duṣṭaḥ kva cāsya balamalpakam | kariṣyasi kṣaṇādeva tasya nāśaṃ mahāmate 62| ityuktvā te mahāvīrāḥ sajjībhūtā raṇāṃgaṇe | pratijñāṃ svāmṛtāṃ kartuṃ yayuste rākṣasaṃ mudā 63| iti śrīpadmapurāṇe pātālakhaṃḍe śeṣavātsyāyanasaṃvāde rāmāśvamedhe vīrapratijñākathanaṃnāma trayastriṃśattamo'dhyāyaḥ 33 |

English translation

Śeṣa said :

1-7a. When many excellent warriors like Śatrughna and all great kings having crores of chariots were going, there was all of a sudden, on the way, very fearful darkness in which kinsmen could not recognise their own man or a stranger. The sky was covered with dust and was full of lightning and thunder. In such a very fearful confusion clouds showered profuse blood with puss and (other) foul things. The heroes who were great enemies, became very much confounded. When the people were perplexed, the condition was: ‘What is this? What is this?’ The eyes of people of renowned vigour were pervaded with darkness. (A demon) who was well known as Vidyunmālin who was Rāvaṇa ’s friend, lived in the nether world and was surrounded by a line of demons took away the horse. He was seated in an aeroplane made of iron and going according to (occupants’) desire.

7b-10a. He causing fear to all heroes took away the horse, In a short while the darkness disappeared and the sky became pure. Those heroes led by Śatrughna said: “Where is the horse?” Looking for the best horse, they saw one another; (but) when they did not see the horse, there was loud wailing. “Where is the horse of (i.e. intended for) the horse-sacrifice? Who, the wicked one, has taken it (away)?”

10b-12. They spoke such words. Just then that lord of demons who was surrounded by the best demons, seated in an excellent aeroplane, was seen by all the best warriors, seated in chariots and adorned with valour. There fearful demons, having bad faces, terrible mouths, long fangs, were seen ready to seize the army (of Śatrughna).

13-14. Then they informed Śatrughna, the best among kings: “We do not know (how) one, shining in an aeroplane, took away the horse into the sky. Having confounded us—the heroes, with darkness, he came, and seized the horse. O best king, do what is proper.”

15-18. Hearing those words, Śatrughna was full of great anger. (He said:) “Who is this powerful demon that has seized my horse? Today let the aeroplane, struck by the volley of my arrows, fall down. Today let the head of my enemy fall down, (after being struck) by my arrows with sharp horse-shoe-shaped heads. Make ready all chariots filled with great weapons and missiles. Let (our) warriors go to strike back the horse-snatcher.” Speaking thus, he, with his eyes red due to anger, said to his minister who knew justice and injustice and who was proficient in the affairs of a war.

Śatrughna said :

19-21. O minister, tell me who, that are diligent in killing the demon, are very brave, are having great weapons, are best among those who know (the use of) excellent missiles, should be appointed (to kill the demon). Think and quickly tell me. I shall do your words (i.e. I shall do as you tell me). Tell me about the heroes knowing (the use of) all missiles and capable of (fighting with) him.

Having heard this the minister spoke befitting words showing the heroes, bent quickly(before Śatrughna), capable of (fighting in) that excellent battle.

Sumati said :

22-31. Let Puṣkala , the tormentor of the enemies, and having great weapons and missiles and ready to get victory in the battle, go to conquer the demon. In the same way let Lakṣmīnidhi possessing a mass of missiles, go. Let him break his vehicle with his sharp arrows. Hanūmat of bold deeds is capable of fighting with the demons. O lord, let him strike the demon with his face and tail. So also let all the brave monkeys who are skilled in fighting and are prompted by your words, go to fight. Let the best ones (like) Sumada , Subāhu , Pratāpāgrya, go to fight with the mean demons with their sharp arrows. May you too, seated in a chariot endowed with great weapons and ready to kill the demon, obtain victory in the battle. O king, this is my view. Let those warriors who are brave and capable of destroying him, go (to fight with him). What is the use of (sending) many other warriors?

When the minister, named Sumati , and best among the heroes, spoke like this, Śatrughna told the heroes skilled in fighting (as follows): “O heroes, let Puṣkala and others, who are skilled in (the use of) all weapons and missiles, state in my presence their pledge to destroy the demon. Let you, making a great solemn declaration befitting your valour and accompanied by the army, go into the battlefield.”

32-33. Hearing these words, the mighty (heroes) of Śatrughna, who were endowed with lustre, made their own great solemn declarations. Then, first, the hero Puṣkala, endowed with great energy, having heard the words of the lord of the earth, made this (i.e. the following) solemn declaration:

Puṣkala said :

34-40. O best king, listen to my very wonderful solemn declaration made due to my valour in the presence of all people that are listening to it. If I do not make the demon overcome with a swoon and his face full of scattered hair, let me have the sin which he who enjoys his own daughter, gets, or which one gets by censuring deities. Let me have that sin if I falsify your words. O great king, listen to my pledge in case the very powerful soldiers (of the demon) do not fall on being pierced with my arrows. If I do not make my words true, let me have the sin of him who distinguishes between Viṣṇu and Śiva or Śiva and Śakti . These are all the words uttered by me (i.e. I had to say). That firm devotion which I have towards the lotus-like feet of Raghunātha , will itself make (my words) true.

Hearing that pledge of Puṣkala, king Lakṣmīnidhi, made a truthful solemn declaration, adorned with his valour.

Lakṣmīnidhi said :

41-43. If I turn back (from the battlefield), I would have that sin which a man gets if he keeps mum on hearing the censure of the Vedas , or being outcast from all religions, he mentally likes (the censure of Vedas); (I shall have the sin of) the brāhmaṇa who is wicked and sells liquor and lac etc., or who, the fool, being tempted by greed sells a cow; (or of him) who having drunk the water from the money of a mleccha , does not observe an expiation.

44-54. Having heard the pledge, Hanūmat, skilled in battle, said, after having remembered Rāma ’s feet, (the following) auspicious words: “My lord (Rāma) whom all gods along with demons salute by (bowing) their heads (adorned) with gems, should always be reflected on by meditating saints in their hearts. The glorious Rāma is the lord of Ayodhyā and is worshipped by the lord of the world. Those words which one would utter by remembering him will come true. O king, who (i.e. how insignificant) is this mean, weak demon, seated in (the aeroplane) moving according to (occupants’) desire? Tell me quickly what should be done by me. Who would (i.e. is able to) knock me down? With my tail I (shall) lift up the Meru (mountain) along with the lord of gods. I (shall) dry up the entire ocean. I shall even drink up the Saṃvarta (cloud abounding in water). I have the favour of king Śrī Raghunātha and Jānakī . O king, there is nothing on the surface of the earth which would ever be unattainable for me. If, O king, these words uttered by me would be untrue, then at that time only I would be away from devotion to Raghunātha. If I falsify my words, then let me have the sin which a śūdra who would keep a tawny cow with the desire (to obtain) milk (from her), would have. If I speak false words, let me have the sin of that śūdra who infatuated by love has sexual intercourse with a brāhmaṇa woman. Certainly let me have that sin which a man greedy through the taste of the tongue would drink liquor by the smell of which a man would go to hell and by its touch would even go to Raurava (hell), if, due to Rāma’s grace I shall not make my pledge true.”

55-59. When this was spoken by the great heroes, the warriors quickly made a solemn declaration shining with their valour. Śatrughna also praising those heroes skilled in battle (with the words) ‘Well (said), well (said)’, made a solemn declaration when people were observing (i.e. in the presence of people): “In front of you, I shall declare my vow adorned with my energy. Let the magnanimous ones endowed with exertion for fight, listen. If I do not strike with my arrows and knock down on the ground from the aeroplane his head cut off and broken from his trunk, let me certainly have that sin which one would get by giving false testimony or by stealing gold or due to censuring the Vedas.”

60-63. Hearing the good words of Śatrughna, those (warriors) honoured by heroes (said:) “O Rāma’s brother, you are blessed. Who else but you would be (so) great? O lord of the world, you alone killed the very mighty Lavaṇa , Madhu ’s son, who caused misery to gods and demons. Who (i.e. how insignificant) is the demon? Where (i.e. of what importance) is his small army? O you very intelligent one, you will (just) in a moment destroy him.” Saying so, the heroes became ready on the battlefield. Gladly they went to (attack) the demon to make their pledge true.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 43927, revision 335930 (2022-04-17T02:12:15Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365344.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.