Aranya Kanda · Sarga 51 of 76 · 46 verses
The Fall of Jatayu
Told this, the king of the rakshasas, his eyes red with anger, wearing earrings of refined gold, impatient, rushes at the king of the birds. The clash between them in that great battle becomes tumultuous, like two clouds in the sky driven by the wind; a wonderful fight between the vulture and the rakshasa, like two great winged mountains with garlands. Ravana rains on the mighty king of vultures very terrible nalika and naracha arrows and sharp barbed ones. Jatayu, lord of the birds, receives those nets of arrows and Ravana’s weapons in battle, and with his feet with sharp talons the mighty best of birds makes many wounds in his body. Then Dashagriva, in anger, takes ten terrible arrows like the rod of death, wishing to kill his enemy, and pierces the vulture with those sharp, terrible, stone-whetted, straight-flying arrows released at full draw. Seeing Janaki in the rakshasa’s chariot with tearful eyes, he pays no heed to those arrows and rushes at the rakshasa. With his feet the very splendid best of birds breaks his bow, with its arrow, adorned with pearls and gems. Taking another bow, Ravana, beside himself with anger, rains showers of arrows by hundreds and thousands. Covered by his arrows in battle, the lord of birds looks like a bird that has reached its nest. Shaking off those nets of arrows with his wings, the very splendid one breaks his great bow with his feet. With his wings he shakes off Ravana’s armour, blazing like fire. The mighty one kills in battle his swift donkeys with golden breastplates and goblin faces. He breaks the great chariot that goes where it wishes, with its three bamboo poles, bright as fire, its body adorned with jewelled steps. He swiftly brings down his umbrella, like the full moon, with its fans and the rakshasas who hold them. With his beak the glorious, very mighty king of birds strikes off his charioteer’s great head. His bow broken, without chariot, his horses killed, his charioteer killed, Ravana falls to the ground, holding Vaidehi on his lap. Seeing Ravana fallen on the ground, his vehicle broken, all beings honour the king of vultures: “Well done! Well done!”
Seeing the leader of the bird-flocks exhausted by age, Ravana, delighted, flies up again holding Maithili. As Ravana goes, delighted, with Janaka’s daughter on his lap, his means lost and destroyed, only his sword left, the very splendid king of vultures flies up, rushes at him, blocks his way and says: “Ravana, little-minded one, you are carrying off the wife of Rama, whose arrows strike like the thunderbolt, surely for the destruction of the rakshasas. With your friends and kin, your ministers, your army and your retinue, you are drinking this poison like a thirsty man drinking water. Those who do not understand the consequences of their deeds, the unwise, perish quickly, as you will perish. Bound by the noose of Time, where will you go to escape it, like a fish that has taken a baited hook to its death? The unassailable Kakutsthas, the two Raghavas, will never forgive you this violation of their hermitage, Ravana. The deed you have done, coward, condemned by the world, is the way of thieves, not the way of heroes. Fight, if you are a hero; stay a moment, Ravana; you will lie killed on the ground as your brother Khara did. The deed a man takes up at the time of his death, that unrighteous deed you have taken up for your own destruction. Who would do a deed whose consequence is evil, even the lord of the worlds, the self-born lord himself?” Having spoken these auspicious words, mighty Jatayu falls hard on the back of Dashagriva, the rakshasa. Seizing him, he tears him all over with his sharp talons, as an elephant-rider mounted on a vicious elephant. He tears him with his talons, digs his beak into his back, and pulls out his hair, his weapons his talons, wings and beak. Tormented again and again by the king of vultures, the rakshasa, his lip quivering with rage, trembles. Holding Vaidehi close in his left arm, Ravana, in pain, beside himself with anger, strikes Jatayu with his palm. Getting past him, Jatayu, lord of birds, tamer of foes, tears off his ten left arms with his beak; but the arms instantly grow back, like serpents from an anthill with garlands of poison flames. Then in anger mighty Dashagriva lets Sita go and beats the king of vultures with his fists and feet. For a moment there is a battle between the two of matchless valour, the chief of rakshasas and the best of birds. As he fights for Rama’s sake, Ravana draws his sword and cuts off his wings, his feet and his flanks. His wings cut off suddenly by the rakshasa of terrible deeds, the great vulture falls to the ground with little life left. Seeing Jatayu fallen on the ground, wet with blood, Vaidehi runs to him, grieving, as to her own kin. The lord of Lanka sees Jatayu on the ground, like a dark-blue cloud, with a white chest, of noble valour, like a forest fire that has gone out. Then, seeing that bird fallen on the ground, crushed by Ravana’s force, Sita, daughter of Janaka, her face bright as the moon, takes hold of him again and weeps.
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इत्युक्तः क्रोधताम्राक्षस्तप्तकाञ्चनकुण्डलः । राक्षसेन्द्रोऽभिदुद्राव पतगेन्द्रममर्षणः ॥ १ ॥
Told so, his eyes red with anger, with earrings of refined gold, the king of the rakshasas, impatient, rushed at the king of birds.
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The Fall of Jatayu 1 min read.
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स सम्प्रहारस्तुमुलस्तयोस्तस्मिन् महामृधे । बभूव वातोद्धुतयोर्मेघयोर्गगने यथा ॥ २ ॥
That clash between the two in that great battle was tumultuous, like that of two clouds in the sky tossed by the wind.
तद् बभूवाद्भुतं युद्धं गृध्रराक्षसयोस्तदा । सपक्षयोर्माल्यवतोर्महापर्वतयोरिव ॥ ३ ॥
That fight between the vulture and the rakshasa was then wonderful, like that of two great winged mountains with garlands.
ततो नालीकनाराचैस्तीक्ष्णाग्रैश्च विकर्णिभिः । अभ्यवर्षन्महाघोरैर्गृध्रराजं महाबलम् ॥ ४ ॥
Then with very terrible nalikas and narachas and sharp-pointed barbed arrows he rained on the very mighty king of vultures.
स तानि शरजालानि गृध्रः पत्ररथेश्वरः । जटायुः प्रतिजग्राह रावणास्त्राणि संयुगे ॥ ५ ॥
Those nets of arrows, Ravana’s weapons, the vulture Jatayu, lord of winged creatures, received in battle.
तस्य तीक्ष्णनखाभ्यां तु चरणाभ्यां महाबलः । चकार बहुधा गात्रे व्रणान् पतगसत्तमः ॥ ६ ॥
And with his two feet with sharp talons the very mighty best of birds made many wounds on his body.
अथ क्रोधाद् दशग्रीवो जग्राह दश मार्गणान् । मृत्युदण्डनिभान् घोरान् शत्रोर्निधनकांक्षया ॥ ७ ॥
Then in anger Dashagriva took ten terrible arrows like the rod of death, wishing to destroy his enemy.
स तैर्बाणैर्महावीर्यः पूर्णमुक्तैरजिह्मगैः । बिभेद निशितैस्तीक्ष्णैर्गृध्रं घोरैः शिलीमुखैः ॥ ८ ॥
With those arrows, of great power, released at full draw, straight-flying, sharp, whetted, terrible, he pierced the vulture.
स राक्षसरथे पश्यञ्जानकीं बाष्पलोचनाम् । अचिन्तयित्वा बाणांस्तान् राक्षसं समभिद्रवत् ॥ ९ ॥
He, seeing Janaki with tearful eyes in the rakshasa’s chariot, paying no heed to those arrows, rushed at the rakshasa.
ततोऽस्य सशरं चापं मुक्तामणिविभूषितम् । चरणाभ्यां महातेजा बभञ्ज पतगोत्तमः ॥ १० ॥
Then with his two feet the very splendid best of birds broke his bow, with its arrow, adorned with pearls and gems.
ततोऽन्यद् धनुरादाय रावणः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः । ववर्ष शरवर्षाणि शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ॥ ११ ॥
Then, taking another bow, Ravana, beside himself with anger, rained showers of arrows by hundreds and by thousands.
शरैरावारितस्तस्य संयुगे पतगेश्वरः । कुलायमभिसम्प्राप्तः पक्षिवच्च बभौ तदा ॥ १२ ॥
Covered by his arrows in battle, the lord of birds then looked like a bird that had come to its nest.
स तानि शरजालानि पक्षाभ्यां तु विधूय ह । चरणाभ्यां महातेजा बभञ्जास्य महद् धनुः ॥ १३ ॥
Shaking off those nets of arrows with his two wings, the very splendid one broke his great bow with his feet.
तच्चाग्निसदृशं दीप्तं रावणस्य शरावरम् । पक्षाभ्यां च महातेजा व्यधुनोत् पतगेश्वरः ॥ १४ ॥
And that blazing armour of Ravana’s, like fire, the very splendid lord of birds shook off with his wings.
काञ्चनोरश्छदान् दिव्यान् पिशाचवदनान् खरान् । तांश्चास्य जवसम्पन्नाञ्जघान समरे बली ॥ १५ ॥
His divine donkeys with golden breastplates and goblin faces, endowed with speed, the mighty one killed in battle.
अथ त्रिवेणुसम्पन्नं कामगं पावकार्चिषम् । मणिसोपानचित्राङ्गं बभञ्ज च महारथम् ॥ १६ ॥
Then the great chariot, endowed with three bamboo poles, going where it wished, with the light of fire, its body bright with jewelled steps, he broke.
पूर्णचन्द्रप्रतीकाशं छत्रं च व्यजनैः सह । पातयामास वेगेन ग्राहिभी राक्षसैः सह ॥ १७ ॥
And with speed he brought down the umbrella like the full moon, with the fans, together with the rakshasas who held them.
सारथेश्चास्य वेगेन तुण्डेन च महच्छिरः । पुनर्व्यपहनच्छ्रीमान् पक्षिराजो महाबलः ॥ १८ ॥
And with his beak the glorious, very mighty king of birds again struck off with speed the great head of his charioteer.
स भग्नधन्वा विरथो हताश्वो हतसारथिः । अङ्केनादाय वैदेहीं पपात भुवि रावणः ॥ १९ ॥
His bow broken, without chariot, his horses killed, his charioteer killed, Ravana fell to the ground, holding Vaidehi on his lap.
दृष्ट्वा निपतितं भूमौ रावणं भग्नवाहनम् । साधु साध्विति भूतानि गृध्रराजमपूजयन् ॥ २० ॥
Seeing Ravana fallen on the ground, his vehicle broken, beings honoured the king of vultures: “Well done! Well done!”
परिश्रान्तं तु तं दृष्ट्वा जरया पक्षियूथपम् । उत्पपात पुनर्हृष्टो मैथिलीं गृह्य रावणः ॥ २१ ॥
But seeing that leader of the bird-flocks exhausted by age, Ravana, delighted, flew up again, holding Maithili.
तं प्रहृष्टं निधायाङ्के रावणं जनकात्मजाम् । गच्छन्तं खड्गशेषं च प्रणष्टहतसाधनम् ॥ २२ ॥
गृध्रराजः समुत्पत्य रावणं समभिद्रवत् । समावार्य महातेजा जटायुरिदमब्रवीत् ॥ २३ ॥
As that Ravana went, delighted, having placed Janaka’s daughter on his lap, his means destroyed and lost, only his sword left, the king of vultures flew up and rushed at Ravana; blocking him, the very splendid Jatayu said this:
वज्रसंस्पर्शबाणस्य भार्यां रामस्य रावण । अल्पबुद्धे हरस्येनां वधाय खलु रक्षसाम् ॥ २४ ॥
“Ravana of little mind, you are carrying off this wife of Rama, whose arrows touch like the thunderbolt, surely for the destruction of the rakshasas.
समित्रबन्धुः सामात्यः सबलः सपरिच्छदः । विषपानं पिबस्येतत् पिपासित इवोदकम् ॥ २५ ॥
“With friends and kin, with ministers, with army and retinue, you are drinking this drinking of poison as a thirsty man drinks water.
अनुबन्धमजानन्तः कर्मणामविचक्षणाः । शीघ्रमेव विनश्यन्ति यथा त्वं विनशिष्यसि ॥ २६ ॥
“Not knowing the consequences of their deeds, the undiscerning perish quickly, as you will perish.
बद्धस्त्वं कालपाशेन क्व गतस्तस्य मोक्ष्यसे । वधाय बडिशं गृह्य सामिषं जलजो यथा ॥ २७ ॥
“Bound by the noose of Time, where will you go to be released from it, like a water-creature that has taken a baited hook to its death?
नहि जातु दुराधर्षौ काकुत्स्थौ तव रावण । धर्षणं चाश्रमस्यास्य क्षमिष्येते तु राघवौ ॥ २८ ॥
“The two Kakutsthas, the Raghavas, hard to assail, will never forgive you this violation of their hermitage, Ravana.
यथा त्वया कृतं कर्म भीरुणा लोकगर्हितम् । तस्कराचरितो मार्गो नैष वीरनिषेवितः ॥ २९ ॥
“The deed that has been done by you, coward, condemned by the world, is the path practised by thieves, not followed by heroes.
युद्ध्यस्व यदि शूरोऽसि मुहूर्तं तिष्ठ रावण । शयिष्यसे हतो भूमौ यथा भ्राता खरस्तथा ॥ ३० ॥
“Fight, if you are a hero; stay a moment, Ravana. You will lie killed on the ground as your brother Khara did.
परेतकाले पुरुषो यत् कर्म प्रतिपद्यते । विनाशायात्मनोऽधर्म्यं प्रतिपन्नोऽसि कर्म तत् ॥ ३१ ॥
“The deed a man takes up at the time of departing: that unrighteous deed you have taken up, for your own destruction.
पापानुबन्धो वै यस्य कर्मणः को नु तत् पुमान् । कुर्वीत लोकाधिपतिः स्वयंभूर्भगवानपि ॥ ३२ ॥
“A deed whose consequence is evil: what man would do it, even the lord of the worlds, the self-born lord himself?”
एवमुक्त्वा शुभं वाक्यं जटायुस्तस्य रक्षसः । निपपात भृशं पृष्ठे दशग्रीवस्य वीर्यवान् ॥ ३३ ॥
Having spoken these auspicious words, mighty Jatayu fell hard on the back of that rakshasa, Dashagriva.
तं गृहीत्वा नखैस्तीक्ष्णैर्विददार समन्ततः । अधिरूढो गजारोहो यथा स्याद् दुष्टवारणम् ॥ ३४ ॥
Seizing him, he tore him on every side with sharp talons, as a mounted elephant-rider would a vicious elephant.
विददार नखैरस्य तुण्डं पृष्ठे समर्पयन् । केशांश्चोत्पाटयामास नखपक्षमुखायुधः ॥ ३५ ॥
He tore him with his talons, sank his beak in his back, and tore out his hair, with talons, wings and beak as weapons.
स तथा गृध्रराजेन क्लिश्यमानो मुहुर्मुहुः । अमर्षस्फुरितोष्ठः सन् प्राकम्पत च राक्षसः ॥ ३६ ॥
Tormented so again and again by the king of vultures, the rakshasa, his lip quivering with rage, trembled.
सम्परिष्वज्य वैदेहीं वामेनाङ्केन रावणः । तलेनाभिजघानार्तो जटायुं क्रोधमूर्च्छितः ॥ ३७ ॥
Holding Vaidehi close with his left arm, Ravana, in pain, beside himself with anger, struck Jatayu with his palm.
जटायुस्तमतिक्रम्य तुण्डेनास्य खगाधिपः । वामबाहून् दश तदा व्यपाहरदरिंदमः ॥ ३८ ॥
Jatayu, overcoming him, the lord of birds, tamer of foes, then tore away his ten left arms with his beak.
संछिन्नबाहोः सद्यो वै बाहवः सहसाभवन् । विषज्वालावलीयुक्ता वल्मीकादिव पन्नगाः ॥ ३९ ॥
For him whose arms were cut off, arms immediately came forth suddenly, like serpents from an anthill, joined with garlands of poisonous flames.
ततः क्रोधाद् दशग्रीवः सीतामुत्सृज्य वीर्यवान् । मुष्टिभ्यां चरणाभ्यां च गृध्रराजमपोथयत् ॥ ४० ॥
Then in anger mighty Dashagriva, letting Sita go, beat the king of vultures with his fists and feet.
ततो मुहूर्तं संग्रामो बभूवातुलवीर्ययोः । राक्षसानां च मुख्यस्य पक्षिणां प्रवरस्य च ॥ ४१ ॥
Then for a moment there was battle between the two of incomparable valour, the chief of the rakshasas and the best of birds.
तस्य व्यायच्छमानस्य रामस्यार्थे स रावणः । पक्षौ पादौ च पार्श्वौ च खड्गमुद्धृत्य सोऽच्छिनत् ॥ ४२ ॥
As he strove for Rama’s sake, that Ravana, drawing his sword, cut off his wings, his feet and his flanks.
स च्छिन्नपक्षः सहसा रक्षसा रौद्रकर्मणा । निपपात महागृध्रो धरण्यामल्पजीवितः ॥ ४३ ॥
His wings suddenly cut off by the rakshasa of terrible deeds, the great vulture fell to the ground with little life left.
तं दृष्ट्वा पतितं भूमौ क्षतजार्द्रं जटायुषम् । अभ्यधावत वैदेही स्वबन्धुमिव दुःखिता ॥ ४४ ॥
Seeing that Jatayu fallen on the ground, wet with blood, Vaidehi, grieved, ran to him as to her own kin.
तं नीलजीमूतनिकाशकल्पं सपाण्डुरोरस्कमुदारवीर्यम् । ददर्श लङ्काधिपतिः पृथिव्यां जटायुषं शान्तमिवाग्निदावम् ॥ ४५ ॥
The lord of Lanka saw on the ground that Jatayu, like a dark-blue cloud, with a white chest, of noble valour, like a forest fire become calm.
ततस्तु तं पत्ररथं महीतले निपातितं रावणवेगमर्दितम् । पुनश्च संगृह्य शशिप्रभानना रुरोद सीता जनकात्मजा तदा ॥ ४६ ॥
Then, seeing that winged one fallen on the ground, crushed by Ravana’s force, Sita, daughter of Janaka, her face like the moon, clasping him again, wept then.