एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण परां व्रीडामुपागमत्। शत्रुघ्नो वीर्यसंपन्नो मन्दं मन्दमुवाच ह॥
Thus accosted by Rāma, the exceedingly energetic Satrughna was powerfully wrought up with bashfulness, and replied slowly.
अधर्म विद्म काकुत्स्थ अस्मिन्नर्थे नरेश्वर। कथं तिष्ठत्सु ज्येष्ठेषु कनीयानभिषिच्यते॥
O lord of men, this does not appear to be in consonance with morality. Wherefore, an elder brother existing, would you install a younger one?
अवश्यं करणीयं च शासनं पुरुषर्षभ। तव चैव महाभाग शासनं दुरतिक्रमम्॥
I must, O best of men, do your behest: for, O exalted one, your mandate can never be passed by me.
त्वत्तो मया श्रुतं वीर श्रुतिभ्यश्च मया श्रुतम्। नोत्तरं हि मया वाच्यं मध्यमे प्रतिजानति।४।। व्याहृतं दुर्वचो घोरं हन्तास्मि लवणं मृधे। तस्यैवं मे दुरुक्तस्य दुर्गतिः पुरुषर्षभ॥
O hero, I have heard from you as well as from the Śruti (touching the morality concerned).* i.e. of being installed as a king during the life of my elder brother. When my second brother had already vowed (that he would slay Lavana), I ought not to have returned the answer I actually have. I saying, 'I will in battle slay the dreadful Lavaņa.' I have been guilty of an unrighteous speech. And it is for this transgression that, O powerful one, I shall have to undergo this improper process. *(i.e. of being installed as a king during the life of my elder brother.)
उत्तरं नहि वक्तव्यं ज्येष्ठेनाभिहिते पुनः। अधर्मसहितं चैव परलोकविवर्जितम्॥
But, albeit this course is unrighteous and entails perdition, yet desired by an eldest brother, I certainly ought not to make any answer.
सोऽहं द्वितीयं काकुत्स्थ न वक्ष्यामीति चोत्तरम्। मा द्वितीयेन दण्डो वै निपतेन्मयि मानद॥
And, O Kākutstha, a second answer I would not return; so that, О bestower of honour, I may not, by a second reply, render myself liable to a fresh punishment.
कामकारो ह्यहं राजंस्तवास्य पुरुषर्षभ। अधर्म जहि काकुत्स्थ मत्कृते रघुनन्दन ॥
In this matter, O chief of men, I will even do your desire. Do you, O descendant of Ragu, so order that sin may not be mine (in having obeyed your mandate.)
एवमुक्ते तु शूरेण शत्रुघ्नेन महात्मना। उवाच रामः संहृष्टो भरतं लक्ष्मणं तथा॥
Thus addressed by the heroic and high-souled Śatrughna, Rāma, delighted, spoke to Bharata and Laksmana.
संभारानभिषेकस्य आनयध्वं समाहिताः। अद्यैव पुरुषव्याघ्रमभिषेक्ष्यामि राघवम्॥
Do you carefully provide the things necessary for the coronation: this very day shall I install that foremost of men, the descendant of Raghu.
पुरोधसं च काकुत्स्थ नैगमानृत्विजस्तथा। मन्त्रिणश्चैव तान्सर्वानानयध्वं ममाज्ञया॥
And by my order do you summon the Purodhasas, O Kākutstha, and the citizens and the Rtvijas, and the councillors.
राज्ञः शासनमाज्ञाय तथाकुर्वन्महारथाः। अभिषेकसमारम्भं पुरस्कृत्य पुरोधसम्॥ प्रविष्टा राजभवनं राजानो ब्राह्मणास्तथा।
Having received the royal behest, the mighty car-warriors did accordingly. And the Kșatriyas and the Brāhmaṇas entered the royal mansion with the priest as well as the requisite things for the installation.
ततोऽभिषेको ववृधे शत्रुघ्नस्य महात्मनः॥ संप्रहर्षकरः श्रीमानराघवस्य पुरस्य च।
And then commenced the auspicious sprinkling of the high-souled Satrughna, gladdening (the hearts of all in) the palace of Rāghava.
अभिषिक्तस्तु काकुत्स्थो बभौ चादित्यसंनिभः॥ अभिषिक्तः पुरा स्कन्दः सेन्ट्रैरिव दिवौकसैः।
And on being installed Käkutstha resembled the sun; and he like Skanda formerly installed by the celestials led by Indra.
अभिषिक्ते तु शत्रुघ्ने रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा॥ पौराः प्रमुदिताश्चासन्ब्राह्मणाश्च बहुश्रुताः।
And when Šatrughna had been installed by Rāma of untiring deeds, the citizens as well as the Brāhmaṇas of vast Vedic, attainments experienced excess of joy.
कौसल्या च सुमित्रा च मङ्गलं केकयी तथा॥ चकुस्ता राजभवने याश्चान्या राजयोषितः। ऋषयश्च महात्मानो यमुनातीरवासिनः॥
And Kausaly, and Sumitrā and Kaikeyi and the other wives of the king set up festal salutation in the palace. And on Satrughna having been installed the high-souled sages dwelling on the banks of the Jamunā, thought that Lavaņa had been slain.
हतं लवणमाशंसुः शत्रुघ्नस्याभिषेचनात्। ततोऽभिषिक्तं शत्रुघ्नमङ्कमारोप्य राघवः। उवाच मधुरां वाणी तेजस्तस्याभिपूरयन्॥
Then placing the installed Satrughna on his lap Rāghava, extolling his prowess, addressed him sweet words.
अयं शरस्त्वमोघस्ते दिव्यः परपुरंजयः। अनेन लवणं सौम्य हन्तासि रघुनन्दन ॥
O captor of hostile capitals, this divine arrow never missing is your. With this, O son of Raghu, you, O spliced one, with slay Lavana.
सृष्टः शरोऽयं काकुत्स्थ यदा शेते महार्णवे। स्वयंभूरजितो दिव्यो यं नापश्यन्सुरासुराः॥ अदृश्यः सर्वभूतानां तेनायं हि शरोत्तमः। सृष्टः क्रोधाभिभूतेन विनाशार्थ दुरात्मनोः॥ मधुकैटभयोर्वीर विघाते सर्वरक्षसाम्। स्रष्टुकामेन लोकांस्त्रीस्तौ चानेन हतौ युधि ॥ हत्वा जनभोगार्थे कैटभं तु मधुं तथा। अनेन शरमुख्येन ततो लोकांश्चकार सः॥
O Kākutstha, this shaft was forged when invisible by celestials and Asuras the divine selfsprung and invincible (deity) reposed on the mighty main, and when creation was oppressed by Madhu and Kaitabha as well as other Räks asas. He, overwhelmed with rage desirous of creating the three worlds, created the best of arrows invincible to all beings, for the extraction of the wicked ones; and destroyed them in battle by means of this very arrow. And having with this foremost of shafts finished Madhu and Kait abha, they set about creating the worlds.
नायं मया शरः पूर्व रावणस्य वधार्थिना। मुक्तः शत्रुघ्न भूतानां महान्हासो भवेदिति॥
When, O Satrughna, formerly I sought to slay Råvaņa, I did not discharge this arrow, thinking that if discharged, it would inflict great havoc on creatures.
यच्च तस्य महच्छूलं त्र्यम्बकेण महात्मना। दत्तं शत्रुविनाशाय मधोरायुधमुत्तमम्॥ तत्संनिक्षिप्य भवने पूज्यमानं पुनः पुनः। दिशः सर्वाः समासाद्य प्राप्नोत्याहारमुत्तमम्॥ यदा तु युद्धमाकाङ्क्षन्यदि कश्चित्समाह्वयेत्। तदा शूलं गृहीत्वा तु भस्म रक्षः करोति हि॥
Keeping in his abode that great and redoubled which had been bestowed on Madhu by the high-souled Tryambaka, for the destruction of foes, and worshipping the same ever, Lavaņa go about and secure excellent fare( for himself) when one challenge him, desirous of reducing him (his antagonist) to ashes.
स त्वं पुरुषशार्दूल तमायुधविनाकृतम्। अप्रविष्टं पुरं पूर्वं द्वारि तिष्ठ धृतायुधः॥ अप्रविष्टं च भवनं युद्धाय पुरुषर्षभ। आह्वयेथा महाबाहो ततो हन्तासि राक्षसम्॥
Therefore, O foremost of men, you should, before entering the city, stand at the gate obstructing his course. O you having long arms, you should invite him for battle when he shall be weaponless and in that way would be able to destroy him.
अन्यथा क्रियमाणे तु अवध्यः स भविष्यति। यदि त्वेवं कृतं वीर विनाशमुपयास्यति॥
And by no other means he is to be slain. If you can encompass this, he shall forsooth be slain.
एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं शूलस्य च विपर्ययः। श्रीमतः शितिकण्ठस्य कृत्यं हि दुरतिक्रमम्॥
O my son, I have thus told you the way in which the dare should be thwarted. It is impossible to surpass the prowess of the graceful Nilkantha.