King Subahu Surrenders to Shatrughna

Shesha said:

1. They, the strikers (of their enemies), (too) hearing the words of their father, said joyfully, " Let it be so", to the great king longing to see Rama. The sons said:

2-9. O king, we do not know anything except the lotuses of your feet. Let that which you have in your mind, take place quickly. Let this horse, adorned with a white chowrie, very much beautified with a jewelled necklace, and smeared with sandal (-paste) etc. be taken there. Your kingdom has the fruit of your orders (i e. your orders are obeyed), O lord. Your treasures are very rich. Your garments are very costly, fine and excellent. There is (plenty of) sandal; so also there is camphor. Your horses are very charming. The elephants are haughty due to rut. The chariots have golden poles. There are a hundred thousand female servants who are adorned with many ornaments of various colours. There are very agreeable servants. There are gems resembling the sun. There are various jewels. There are white pearls produced from the temples of elephants. There are a hundred thousand corals. O you very intelligent king, give all those things which are very splendid, to Ramachandra. O king, offer us, your sons and your servants (to Ramachandra). O king, how is it that you do not make your throne over to him? said:

10. Hearing these words of his sons the king became glad; and he said to the brave sons who were ready to do his words (i.e. to obey his orders): The king said:

11. Let all (the heroes) having put on (their armours), having weapons in their hands, and surrounded by many chariots, bring the horse. Then I shall go to the king. Shesha said:

12-18. Hearing these words of the king the diligent (men), brave in battle, viz. ViChitra, Damana, so also Suketu, went by his order. The heroes went to the city and took in front of the king the horse which was adorned with a golden plate etc., was richly decorated with a jewelled necklace, was decorated with a variegated note, was well adorned with a mass of pearls, and was held by the heroes possessing great weapons and missiles and having all (kinds of) charm from the front and the back by means of a rope. On the head of the horse, a white chowrie appeared aloft. In front of him a couple of good chowries shone again and again. (They) took the horse of the good (i.e. auspicious) horse-sacrifice, which had wind's speed and was made fragrant with Krishnagaru sandal, in front of the king. The intelligent king seeing the horse decorated with a jewelled necklace, having the speed of mind and a beautiful form brought (before him) was pleased.

19-23. The very righteous king adorned with royal insignia and accompanied by his sons and grandsons went on foot to Shatrughna. Thinking that wealth is perishable and gives pain to them whose hearts are attached to it, he went to make a proper use of the unsteady wealth. Then he saw Shatrughna adorned with a white umbrella and being fanned by servants standing before him, asking Sumati (to narrate) Ramachandra's story free from any tidings causing fear, well adorned by heroes, crowded with crores of heroes who desired to protect the horse, and surrounded on all sides by thousands of monkeys.

24-26. Seeing the feet of Shatrughna, he was delighted; and thinking 'I am lucky', and with a concentrated mind uttering (" the word) 'Rama', he with his sons saluted the feet of shatrughna. Seeing that pre-eminent and affectionate king, Shatrughna got up from his seat along with all his heroes and embraced him with his arms. The king, the killer of his enemies, having very much (i.e. devoutly) honoured Shatrughna, and being delighted, spoke with a faltering voice to Shatrughna. Subahu said:

27-31. Today I am blessed along with my sons, my family, my horses (and elephants) that I am seeing your feet praised by crores of kings. O you ocean of kindness, my ignorant son Damana had seized this best horse. (Please) forgive him this unfairness. He does not know (Rama) the crest of the Raghus, the deity superior to all gods, the creator of the universe with ease, the destroyer and yet the protector also. (Take) this kingdom rich in all constituents and having mighty horses (and elephants). These treasures of me are full of wealth. These sons of me and I myself — all of us are Rama's servants, obeying your commands. Take all (this) along with their effects. I have no superiority complex.

32-41. Where is that Hanumat, the bee at Rama's lotusfeet, due to whose favour I shall have the sight of the king of kings? What is not obtained on the earth in the company of the good? Seeing that great king (i.e. Rama) having eyes like lotus-petals, I the ignorant one, have today overcome (the effect of) the brahmana's curse, and will obtain here the entire fruit of my existence, difficult to secure. Being very much separated from Rama, I have passed a large (portion of my) life. Only a little (part of) it is left. How shall I see the best of the Raghus? Show me (that) Rama who is proficient in the rite of sacrifice, and by the dust of whose feet (Ahalya) the dear wife of sage (Gautama) who was turned into stone was purified. The crow — the bird — obtained the highest position due to his arrow's touch. Many in the battle went to (the best) position on seeing the lotus of his face. Those who respectfully take the name of this Raghunatha go to the highest place thought of by ascetics. Blessed are the people born in Ayodhya, who having drunk with the cups of their own eyes the lotus of Rama's face go to (e. obtain) happiness (and) great prosperity.

Having spoken like this to the king (i.e. Shatrughna) ile offered the (sacrificial) horse, his kingdom and wealth (to Shatrughna) and said (to him): " O lord of the earth, I am (your) servant." Hearing these words of the king the eloquent Shatrughna who conquered the cities of his enemies and who was proficient in (using correct) words replied to the king: Shatrughna said:

42-49. O king, how do you speak (like) this? You are old, (therefore) you are venerable to me. Let this Damana command your entire kingdom. It is the duty of ksatriyas which enjoins a battle. By my order let all this kingdom and this wealth go back (to your son Damana). As Raghunatha (i.e. Rama) is always adorable to me by means of speech and mind, similarly, O lord of the earth, you will also be adorable (to me). Having armed yourself, having put on an armour, having taken a sword, and with your elephants and horses, you should today be ready to go after the horse. The lord of the earth who was highly respected by Shatrughna, having heard these words of Shatrughna, consecrated his son on his throne, and the king, a great warrior and a knower of the truth, surrounded by great heroes, having performed purificatory rites according to the sacred commands over his son killed on the battlefield by Puskala, grieved for a while from the point of view of the world (i.e. as commonly people do). Recollecting Raghunatha he destroyed his grief with knowledge. Being ready and seated in a chariot, he, led by great warriors and surrounded by a great army, came to Shatrughna.

50-53. The king (i.e. Shatrughna), having seen him having come with his entire army, made up his mind to go to protect the horse. The horse marked by a note on his forehead and released by him, took a turn towards the left and wandered towards many eastern countries. At every place respectable and very brave kings saluted him. Nobody seized him. Somebrought variegated garments, some brought wealth, (others brought) people, and some brought (i.e. handed over) their kingdom and saluted him.

 

CHAPTER THIRTY

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