Aranya Kanda · Sarga 14 of 76 · 36 verses
Jatayu
On the way to Panchavati, the delight of the Raghus comes upon a huge vulture of terrible strength. Seeing it in the forest, the fortunate Rama and Lakshmana take the bird for a rakshasa and ask: “Who are you?” In a sweet, gentle voice, as if to please them, it says: “Child, know me to be your father’s friend.” Thinking him his father’s friend, Raghava honours him and asks calmly about his family and his name. Hearing Rama, the bird tells him of his family and himself, and of the origin of all beings: “In ancient times, mighty-armed one, there were the lords of creatures; hear me name them all from the beginning, Raghava. Kardama was the first, then Vikrita, Shesha, Samshraya and mighty Bahuputra; Sthanu, Marichi, Atri and powerful Kratu; Pulastya, Angiras, Pracetas and Pulaha; Daksha, Vivasvan, Arishtanemi, Raghava; and the very splendid Kashyapa was the last of them. Daksha, the lord of creatures, it is said, had sixty glorious daughters, Rama. Kashyapa took eight of them, slender-waisted: Aditi, Diti, Danu, Kalaka, Tamra, Krodhavasha, Manu and Anala. Pleased, Kashyapa said to those maidens: ‘You will bear sons equal to me, lords of the three worlds.’ Aditi, Diti, Danu and Kalaka set their minds on it, Rama; the others did not. From Aditi were born the thirty-three gods: the Adityas, Vasus, Rudras and the two Ashvins. Diti bore the glorious Daityas, dear one; long ago this earth with its forests and oceans was theirs. Danu bore a son, Ashvagriva, tamer of foes; and Kalaka bore Naraka and Kalaka. Tamra bore five world-famous daughters: Kraunchi, Bhasi, Shyeni, Dhritarashtri and Shuki. Kraunchi bore owls, Bhasi bhasa birds; Shyeni bore very splendid hawks and vultures; Dhritarashtri, the passionate, bore all the swans, geese and chakravakas, bless you; Shuki bore Nata, and Vinata was Nata’s daughter. Krodhavasha bore ten daughters, Rama: Mrigi, Mrigamanda, Hari, Bhadramada, Matangi, Sharduli, Shveta, Surabhi, Surasa endowed with all good marks, and Kadru. All deer are the offspring of Mrigi; bears, srimaras and camaras of Mrigamanda. Bhadramada bore a daughter named Iravati, whose son is Airavata, the great elephant, protector of the world. Hari’s offspring are the lions and the brave monkeys; Sharduli bore the golangulas and tigers; Matangi’s offspring are the elephants; Shveta bore the white elephants of the quarters. Surabhi bore two daughters, Rohini and the glorious Gandharvi; Rohini bore cattle and Gandharvi horses. Surasa bore the nagas, Rama, and Kadru the serpents. Manu, wife of great-souled Kashyapa, bore human beings: brahmanas, kshatriyas, vaishyas and shudras. The brahmanas were born from the mouth, the kshatriyas from the chest, the vaishyas from the thighs and the shudras from the feet, so the scripture says. Anala bore all the trees with holy fruit. Vinata was Shuki’s granddaughter, and Kadru was Surasa’s sister. Kadru bore a thousand nagas who hold up the earth; Vinata had two sons, Garuda and Aruna. From that Aruna I was born, and my elder brother Sampati. Know me, tamer of foes, as Jatayu, son of Shyeni. If you wish, I will be your companion in your dwelling. This forest is hard to pass, frequented by beasts and rakshasas; I will guard Sita, dear one, when you go out with Lakshmana.” Honouring Jatayu, Raghava joyfully embraces him and bows, for he has often heard from his father of their friendship, as Jatayu himself recounts it. Entrusting Sita Maithili to that very mighty bird, he goes with Lakshmana to Panchavati, eager to burn up his enemies as fire burns moths.
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अथ पञ्चवटीं गच्छन्नन्तरा रघुनन्दनः । आससाद महाकायं गृध्रं भीमपराक्रमम् ॥ १ ॥
Then, while going to Panchavati, on the way the delight of the Raghus came upon a huge vulture of terrible strength.
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तं दृष्ट्वा तौ महाभागौ वनस्थं रामलक्ष्मणौ । मेनाते राक्षसं पक्षिं ब्रुवाणौ को भवानिति ॥ २ ॥
Seeing him in the forest, the two fortunate ones, Rama and Lakshmana, thought the bird a rakshasa, saying, “Who are you?”
स तौ मधुरया वाचा सौम्यया प्रीणयन्निव । उवाच वत्स मां विद्धि वयस्यं पितुरात्मनः ॥ ३ ॥
In a sweet, gentle voice, as if pleasing them, he said: “Child, know me to be a friend of your father.”
स तं पितृसखं मत्वा पूजयामास राघवः । स तस्य कुलमव्यग्रमथ पप्रच्छ नाम च ॥ ४ ॥
Thinking him his father’s friend, Raghava honoured him; then he asked him calmly about his family and his name.
रामस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा कुलमात्मानमेव च । आचचक्षे द्विजस्तस्मै सर्वभूतसमुद्भवम् ॥ ५ ॥
Hearing Rama’s words, the bird told him of his family and himself, and of the origin of all beings:
पूर्वकाले महाबाहो ये प्रजापतयोऽभवन् । तान्मे निगदतः सर्वानादितः शृणु राघव ॥ ६ ॥
“In former times, mighty-armed one, there were the lords of creatures. Hear me name them all from the beginning, Raghava.
कर्दमः प्रथमस्तेषां विकृतस्तदनन्तरम् । शेषश्च संश्रयश्चैव बहुपुत्रश्च वीर्यवान् ॥ ७ ॥
“Kardama was the first of them, Vikrita after him, Shesha and Samshraya and the mighty Bahuputra,
स्थाणुर्मरीचिरत्रिश्च क्रतुश्चैव महाबलः । पुलस्त्यश्चांगिराश्चैव प्रचेताः पुलहस्तथा ॥ ८ ॥
“Sthanu, Marichi, Atri and very mighty Kratu, Pulastya and Angiras, Pracetas and Pulaha,
दक्षो विवस्वानपरोऽरिष्टनेमिश्च राघव । कश्यपश्च महातेजास्तेषामासीच्च पश्चिमः ॥ ९ ॥
“Daksha, Vivasvan and Arishtanemi, Raghava; and the very splendid Kashyapa was the last of them.
प्रजापतेस्तु दक्षस्य बभूवुरिति विश्रुतम् । षष्टिर्दुहितरो राम यशस्विन्यो महायशः ॥ १० ॥
“Of Daksha, the lord of creatures, it is famed that there were sixty glorious daughters, Rama, greatly glorious one.
कश्यपः प्रतिजग्राह तासामष्टौ सुमध्यमाः । अदितिं च दितिं चैव दनूमपि च कालकाम् ॥ ११ ॥
“Kashyapa took eight of them, slender-waisted: Aditi and Diti, Danu and Kalaka,
ताम्रां क्रोधवशां चैव मनुं चाप्यनलामपि । तास्तु कन्यास्ततः प्रीतः कश्यपः पुनरब्रवीत् ॥ १२ ॥
“Tamra and Krodhavasha, Manu and Anala too. Then Kashyapa, pleased, said to those maidens again:
पुत्रांस्त्रैलोक्यभर्तॄन्वै जनयिष्यथ मत्समान् । अदितिस्तन्मना राम दितिश्च दनुरेव च ॥ १३ ॥
“’You will bear sons like me, rulers of the three worlds.’ Aditi set her mind on it, Rama, and Diti and Danu,
कालका च महाबाहो शेषास्त्वमनसोऽभवन् । अदित्यां जज्ञिरे देवास्त्रयस्त्रिंशदरिंदम ॥ १४ ॥
“and Kalaka, mighty-armed one; but the others were unwilling. From Aditi were born the thirty-three gods, tamer of foes:
आदित्या वसवो रुद्रा ह्यश्विनौ च परंतप । दितिस्त्वजनयत्पुत्रान्दैत्यांस्तात यशस्विनः ॥ १५ ॥
“the Adityas, Vasus, Rudras and the two Ashvins, scorcher of foes. Diti bore sons, the glorious Daityas, dear one.
तेषामियं वसुमती पुरासीत्सवनार्णवा । दनुस्त्वजनयत्पुत्रमश्वग्रीवमरिंदम ॥ १६ ॥
“Long ago this earth, with its forests and oceans, was theirs. Danu bore a son, Ashvagriva, tamer of foes,
नरकं कालकं चैव कालकापि व्यजायत । क्रौञ्चीं भासीं तथा श्येनीं धृतराष्ट्रीं तथा शुकीम् ॥ १७ ॥
“and Kalaka bore Naraka and Kalaka. Kraunchi, Bhasi, Shyeni, Dhritarashtri and Shuki:
ताम्रा तु सुषुवे कन्याः पञ्चैता लोकविश्रुताः । उलूकाञ्जनयत्क्रौञ्ची भासी भासान्व्यजायत ॥ १८ ॥
“Tamra bore these five world-famous daughters. Kraunchi bore owls; Bhasi bore bhasa birds;
श्येनी श्येनांश्च गृध्रांश्च व्यजायत सुतेजसः । धृतराष्ट्री तु हंसांश्च कलहंसांश्च सर्वशः ॥ १९ ॥
“Shyeni bore very splendid hawks and vultures; Dhritarashtri bore swans and all the geese,
चक्रवाकांश्च भद्रं ते विजज्ञे सापि भामिनी । शुकी नतां विजज्ञे तु नताया विनता सुता ॥ २० ॥
“and that passionate one also bore chakravakas, bless you. Shuki bore Nata; Vinata was Nata’s daughter.
दश क्रोधवशा राम विजज्ञेऽप्यात्मसंभवाः । मृगीं च मृगमन्दां च हरीं भद्रमदामपि ॥ २१ ॥
“Krodhavasha bore ten daughters of her own, Rama: Mrigi, Mrigamanda, Hari and Bhadramada,
मातङ्गीमथ शार्दूलीं श्वेतां च सुरभीं तथा । सर्वलक्षणसंपन्नां सुरसां कद्रुकामपि ॥ २२ ॥
“Matangi, then Sharduli, Shveta and Surabhi, Surasa endowed with all good marks, and Kadru too.
अपत्यं तु मृगाः सर्वे मृग्या नरवरोत्तम । ऋक्षाश्च मृगमन्दायाः सृमराश्चमरास्तथा ॥ २३ ॥
“All deer are the offspring of Mrigi, best of men; bears, srimaras and camaras are of Mrigamanda.
ततस्त्विरावतीं नाम जज्ञे भद्रमदा सुताम् । तस्यास्त्वैरावतः पुत्रो लोकनाथो महागजः ॥ २४ ॥
“Then Bhadramada bore a daughter named Iravati; her son is Airavata, the great elephant, protector of the world.
हर्याश्च हरयोऽपत्यं वानराश्च तपस्विनः । गोलांगूलाश्च शार्दूली व्याघ्रांचाजनयत् सुतान् ॥ २५ ॥
“Hari’s offspring are the lions and the vigorous monkeys; Sharduli bore golangulas and tigers as sons.
मातंग्यास्त्वथ मातङ्गाअपत्यं मनुजर्षभ । दिशागजं तुश्वेत काकुत्स्थ श्वेता व्यजनयत् सुतम् ॥ २६ ॥
“The elephants are the offspring of Matangi, bull among men; Shveta bore the white elephant of the quarters as her son, Kakutstha.
ततो दुहितरौ राम सुरभिर्द्वे व्यजायत । रोहिणीं नाम भद्रं ते गन्धर्वीं च यशस्विनीम् ॥ २७ ॥
“Then Surabhi bore two daughters, Rama: one named Rohini, bless you, and the glorious Gandharvi.
रोहिण्यजनयद् गावो गन्धर्वी वाजिनः सुतान् । सुरसाजनयन्नागान्राम कद्रूश्च पन्नगान् ॥ २८ ॥
“Rohini bore cattle, Gandharvi horses as sons; Surasa bore the nagas, Rama, and Kadru the serpents.
मनुर्मनुष्याञ्जनयत् कश्यपस्य महात्मनः । ब्राह्मणान्क्षत्रियान्वैश्याञ्शूद्रां च मनुजर्षभ ॥ २९ ॥
“Manu, of great-souled Kashyapa, bore human beings: brahmanas, kshatriyas, vaishyas and shudras, bull among men.
मुखतो ब्राह्मणा जाता उरसः क्षत्रियास्तथा । ऊरुभ्यां जज्ञिरे वैश्याः पद्भ्यां शूद्रा इति श्रुतिः ॥ ३० ॥
“From the mouth the brahmanas were born, from the chest the kshatriyas, from the thighs the vaishyas, and from the feet the shudras: so the scripture says.
सर्वान्पुण्यफलान्वृक्षाननलापि व्यजायत । विनता च शुकी पौत्री कद्रूश्च सुरसा स्वसा ॥ ३१ ॥
“Anala bore all the trees with holy fruit. Vinata was Shuki’s granddaughter, and Kadru was Surasa’s sister.
कद्रूर्नाग सहस्रं तु विजज्ञे धरणीधरन् । द्वौ पुत्रौ विनतायास्तु गरुडोऽरुण एव च ॥ ३२ ॥
“Kadru bore a thousand nagas who hold up the earth; and Vinata had two sons, Garuda and Aruna.
तस्माज्जातोऽहमरुणात्संपातिश्च ममाग्रजः । जटायुरिति मां विद्धि श्येनीपुत्रमरिंदम ॥ ३३ ॥
“From that Aruna I was born, and my elder brother Sampati. Know me, tamer of foes, as Jatayu, son of Shyeni.
सोऽहं वाससहायस्ते भविष्यामि यदीच्छसि । इदं दुर्गं हि कान्तारं मृगराक्षससेवितम् सीतां च तात रक्षिष्ये त्वयि याते सलक्ष्मणे ॥ ३४ ॥
“If you wish, I will be your companion in dwelling. For this forest is hard to pass, frequented by beasts and rakshasas. And I will guard Sita, dear one, when you have gone with Lakshmana.”
जटायुषं तु प्रतिपूज्य राघवो मुदा परिष्वज्य च सन्नतोऽभवत् । पितुर्हि शुश्राव सखित्वमात्मवाञ्जटायुषा संकथितं पुनः पुनः ॥ ३५ ॥
Honouring Jatayu, Raghava joyfully embraced him and bowed; for the self-possessed one had heard of his friendship with his father, told again and again by Jatayu.
स तत्र सीतां परिदाय मैथिलीं सहैव तेनातिबलेन पक्षिणा । जगाम तां पञ्चवटीं सलक्ष्मणो रिपून्दिधक्षञ्शलभानिवानलः ॥ ३६ ॥
Entrusting Sita Maithili there to that very mighty bird, he went with Lakshmana to that Panchavati, wishing to burn his enemies as fire burns moths.