Aranya Kanda · Sarga 68 of 76 · 38 verses
The Death and Funeral of Jatayu
Looking at the vulture thrown to the ground by the fierce one, Rama says to Saumitri, rich in friendship: “Surely this bird, striving for my sake, was killed in battle by the rakshasa, and gives up his life for me. Life is in this body, Lakshmana, very weak; he has lost his voice and looks up feebly. Jatayu, if you can speak again, tell me of Sita, bless you, and tell of your own killing. Why did Ravana carry off the noble one? What did I do to him? What offence did Ravana see, that my beloved was carried off? How did that face like the moon look, lovely? What did Sita say at that time, best of birds? What is that rakshasa’s strength, his form, his deeds? Where is his home, dear one? Tell me as I ask.” Looking up at him as he laments like one without a protector, the righteous one says to Rama in a feeble voice: “She was carried off by the king of the rakshasas, wicked Ravana, using great illusion, filled with wind and storm. When I was exhausted, dear one, the night-ranger cut off my wings, took Sita Vaidehi and went facing south. My life-breaths are being stopped, my sight is whirling, Raghava; I see golden trees with hair of ushira grass. The hour in which Ravana went away taking Sita is the hour called Vinda, in which a lost treasure quickly returns to its owner; he did not know it, Kakutstha. Having carried off your beloved Janaki, Ravana, king of the rakshasas, will quickly perish, like a fish that has taken the hook. Do not grieve for Janaka’s daughter; you will soon enjoy yourself with Vaidehi, having killed him at the front of battle.” As the vulture, still clear in mind, answers Rama, blood mixed with flesh flows from his mouth as he dies. “He is the son of Vishravas himself, the brother of Vaishravana”: having said this, the lord of birds gives up his life, so hard to give up. As Rama, palms joined, keeps saying “Speak! Speak!”, the vulture’s life leaves his body and goes into the sky. Laying his head on the ground, stretching out his feet, throwing out his body, he falls to the earth.
Seeing that vulture with copper eyes, lifeless, like a mountain, Rama, wretched with many sorrows, says to Saumitri: “Having lived happily for many years in the Dandaka forest, in the home of the rakshasas, this bird has died here. He who lived many years, risen long ago, now lies killed today; Time is hard to pass. See, Lakshmana: this vulture, my benefactor, has been killed, having gone to Sita’s help against mighty Ravana. Abandoning the great kingdom of the vultures, his fathers’ and grandfathers’, this lord of birds has given up his life for my sake. Good people who walk in dharma, heroes who give refuge, are seen everywhere, Saumitri, even among those born as animals. The grief born of Sita’s abduction is not so great for me, gentle one, as the death of the vulture for my sake, scorcher of foes. As glorious King Dasharatha was honoured and respected by me, so is this lord of birds. Saumitri, bring wood; I will kindle a fire by rubbing. I will burn the king of vultures, who met his death for my sake. I will place the lord of the world of birds on the pyre; I will burn him, Saumitri, killed by the fierce rakshasa. The way of those devoted to sacrifice, the way of those who keep the sacred fire, the way of those who never turn back, and of those who give land: with my leave, go to the unsurpassed worlds, king of vultures of great courage; go, purified by me.” Saying this, righteous Rama places the lord of birds on the blazing pyre and burns him, grieving, as he would his own kin. Then mighty Rama, going into the forest with Saumitri, kills large rohi deer and spreads them out for the bird. Taking out the deer’s flesh and making it into balls, glorious Rama gives it to the bird on a lovely green lawn. What the twice-born say for a dead mortal, leading him to the heaven of the ancestors, Rama recites for him. Then the two sons of the best of men go to the river Godavari and offer water to the king of vultures; having bathed, the two Raghavas offer water to the vulture by the rite seen in the shastras. That king of vultures, having done a glorious, very hard deed and been struck down in battle, purified by one like a great seer, goes to his own holy, auspicious destination. Having offered water to the best of birds, the two set their minds firmly and go into the forest with their hearts set on finding Sita, like Vishnu and Vasava, lords of the gods.
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रामः प्रेक्ष्य तु तं गृध्रं भुवि रौद्रेण पातितम् । सौमित्रिं मित्रसम्पन्नमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ १ ॥
Looking at that vulture thrown to the ground by the fierce one, Rama said these words to Saumitri, rich in friendship:
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The Death and Funeral of Jatayu 1 min read.
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ममायं नूनमर्थेषु यतमानो विहंगमः । राक्षसेन हतः संख्ये प्राणांस्त्यजति मत्कृते ॥ २ ॥
“Surely this bird, striving in my interests, has been killed in battle by the rakshasa, and gives up his life for my sake.
अतिखिन्नः शरीरेऽस्मिन् प्राणो लक्ष्मण विद्यते । तथा स्वरविहीनोऽयं विक्लवं समुदीक्षते ॥ ३ ॥
“Very weak life remains in this body, Lakshmana; he is without voice and looks up feebly.
जटायो यदि शक्नोषि वाक्यं व्याहरितुं पुनः । सीतामाख्याहि भद्रं ते वधमाख्याहि चात्मनः ॥ ४ ॥
“Jatayu, if you are able to speak words again, tell of Sita, bless you, and tell of your own killing.
किंनिमित्तो जहारार्यां रावणस्तस्य किं मया । अपराधं तु यं दृष्ट्वा रावणेन हृता प्रिया ॥ ५ ॥
“For what reason did Ravana carry off the noble one? What of his was done by me? Seeing what offence was my beloved carried off by Ravana?
कथं तच्चन्द्रसंकाशं मुखमासीन्मनोहरम् । सीतया कानि चोक्तानि तस्मिन् काले द्विजोत्तम ॥ ६ ॥
“How was that lovely face like the moon? And what words were spoken by Sita at that time, best of the twice-born?
कथंवीर्यः कथंरूपः किंकर्मा स च राक्षसः । क्व चास्य भवनं तात ब्रूहि मे परिपृच्छतः ॥ ७ ॥
“Of what valour, of what form, of what deeds is that rakshasa? And where is his dwelling, dear one? Tell me as I ask.”
तमुद्वीक्ष्य स धर्मात्मा विलपन्तमनाथवत् । वाचा विक्लवया राममिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ ८ ॥
Looking up at him, lamenting like one without a protector, the righteous one said these words to Rama in a feeble voice:
सा हृता राक्षसेन्द्रेण रावणेन दुरात्मना । मायामास्थाय विपुलां वातदुर्दिनसंकुलाम् ॥ ९ ॥
“She was carried off by the lord of the rakshasas, wicked Ravana, resorting to vast illusion, filled with wind and storm.
परिक्लान्तस्य मे तात पक्षौ छित्त्वा निशाचरः । सीतामादाय वैदेहीं प्रयातो दक्षिणामुखः ॥ १० ॥
“When I was exhausted, dear one, the night-ranger cut off my wings, took Sita Vaidehi, and went facing south.
उपरुध्यन्ति मे प्राणा दृष्टिर्भ्रमति राघव । पश्यामि वृक्षान् सौवर्णानुशीरकृतमूर्धजान् ॥ ११ ॥
“My life-breaths are being stopped, my sight is whirling, Raghava. I see golden trees with ushira grass for hair.
येन याति मुहूर्तेन सीतामादाय रावणः । विप्रणष्टं धनं क्षिप्रं तत्स्वामी प्रतिपद्यते ॥ १२ ॥
विन्दो नाम मुहूर्तोऽसौ न च काकुत्स्थ सोऽबुधत् । त्वत्प्रियां जानकीं हृत्वा रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः । झषवद् बडिशं गृह्य क्षिप्रमेव विनश्यति ॥ १३ ॥
“The hour in which Ravana goes taking Sita, in which the owner quickly regains lost wealth, is the hour named Vinda, and he did not know it, Kakutstha. Having carried off your beloved Janaki, Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, like a fish that has taken the hook, will quickly perish.
न च त्वया व्यथा कार्या जनकस्य सुतां प्रति । वैदेह्या रंस्यसे क्षिप्रं हत्वा तं रणमूर्धनि ॥ १४ ॥
“And you must not feel distress about Janaka’s daughter. Having killed him at the front of battle, you will soon delight with Vaidehi.”
असम्मूढस्य गृध्रस्य रामं प्रत्यनुभाषतः । आस्यात् सुस्राव रुधिरं म्रियमाणस्य सामिषम् ॥ १५ ॥
As the vulture, undeluded, answered Rama, blood mixed with flesh flowed from his mouth as he was dying.
पुत्रो विश्रवसः साक्षाद् भ्राता वैश्रवणस्य च । इत्युक्त्वा दुर्लभान् प्राणान् मुमोच पतगेश्वरः ॥ १६ ॥
“He is the son of Vishravas himself and the brother of Vaishravana”: having said this, the lord of birds released his life, so hard to give up.
ब्रूहि ब्रूहीति रामस्य ब्रुवाणस्य कृताञ्जलेः । त्यक्त्वा शरीरं गृध्रस्य प्राणा जग्मुर्विहायसम् ॥ १७ ॥
As Rama, palms joined, was saying “Speak! Speak!”, the vulture’s life-breaths left his body and went into the sky.
स निक्षिप्य शिरो भूमौ प्रसार्य चरणौ तथा । विक्षिप्य च शरीरं स्वं पपात धरणीतले ॥ १८ ॥
Laying his head on the ground and stretching out his feet, throwing out his own body, he fell on the earth.
तं गृध्रं प्रेक्ष्य ताम्राक्षं गतासुमचलोपमम् । रामः सुबहुभिर्दुःखैर्दीनः सौमित्रिमब्रवीत् ॥ १९ ॥
Seeing that vulture with copper eyes, lifeless, like a mountain, Rama, wretched with very many sorrows, said to Saumitri:
बहूनि रक्षसां वासे वर्षाणि वसता सुखम् । अनेन दण्डकारण्ये विशीर्णमिह पक्षिणा ॥ २० ॥
“Having lived happily for many years in the home of the rakshasas, this bird has perished here in the Dandaka forest.
अनेकवार्षिको यस्तु चिरकालसमुत्थितः । सोऽयमद्य हतः शेते कालो हि दुरतिक्रमः ॥ २१ ॥
“He who was of many years, risen long ago, this one lies killed today; for Time is hard to pass beyond.
पश्य लक्ष्मण गृध्रोऽयमुपकारी हतश्च मे । सीतामभ्यवपन्नो हि रावणेन बलीयसा ॥ २२ ॥
“See, Lakshmana: this vulture, my benefactor, has been killed; for he went to Sita’s aid against mighty Ravana.
गृध्रराज्यं परित्यज्य पितृपैतामहं महत् । मम हेतोरयं प्राणान् मुमोच पतगेश्वरः ॥ २३ ॥
“Abandoning the great kingdom of the vultures, his fathers’ and grandfathers’, this lord of birds released his life for my sake.
सर्वत्र खलु दृश्यन्ते साधवो धर्मचारिणः । शूराः शरण्याः सौमित्रे तिर्यग्योनिगतेष्वपि ॥ २४ ॥
“Good people who walk in dharma, heroes giving refuge, are seen everywhere, Saumitri, even among those gone into animal births.
सीताहरणजं दुःखं न मे सौम्य तथागतम् । यथा विनाशो गृध्रस्य मत्कृते च परंतप ॥ २५ ॥
“The grief born of Sita’s abduction has not come to me so much, gentle one, as the destruction of the vulture for my sake, scorcher of foes.
राजा दशरथः श्रीमान् यथा मम महायशाः । पूजनीयश्च मान्यश्च तथायं पतगेश्वरः ॥ २६ ॥
“As glorious, greatly renowned King Dasharatha was to be honoured and respected by me, so is this lord of birds.
सौमित्रे हर काष्ठानि निर्मथिष्यामि पावकम् । गृध्रराजं दिधक्ष्यामि मत्कृते निधनं गतम् ॥ २७ ॥
“Saumitri, bring wood; I will kindle a fire by friction. I will burn the king of vultures, who met his death for my sake.
नाथं पतगलोकस्य चितिमारोपयाम्यहम् । इमं धक्ष्यामि सौमित्रे हतं रौद्रेण रक्षसा ॥ २८ ॥
“I will place the lord of the world of birds on the pyre. I will burn this one, Saumitri, killed by the fierce rakshasa.
या गतिर्यज्ञशीलानामाहिताग्नेश्च या गतिः । अपरावर्तिनां या च या च भूमिप्रदायिनाम् ॥ २९ ॥
“The way of those devoted to sacrifice, and the way of the keeper of the sacred fire, and the way of those who never turn back, and the way of the givers of land:
मया त्वं समनुज्ञातो गच्छ लोकाननुत्तमान् । गृध्रराज महासत्त्व संस्कृतश्च मया व्रज ॥ ३० ॥
“given leave by me, go to the unsurpassed worlds. King of vultures of great courage, go, purified by me.”
एवमुक्त्वा चितां दीप्तामारोप्य पतगेश्वरम् । ददाह रामो धर्मात्मा स्वबन्धुमिव दुःखितः ॥ ३१ ॥
Having said this, righteous Rama, placing the lord of birds on the blazing pyre, burned him, grieving, as his own kinsman.
रामोऽथ सहसौमित्रिर्वनं गत्वा स वीर्यवान् । स्थूलान् हत्वा महारोहीननुतस्तार तं द्विजम् ॥ ३२ ॥
Then Rama with Saumitri, going into the forest, the mighty one, having killed large rohi deer, spread them out for that bird.
रोहिमांसानि चोद्धृत्य पेशीकृत्वा महायशाः । शकुनाय ददौ रामो रम्ये हरितशाद्वले ॥ ३३ ॥
And taking out the flesh of the rohis and making it into balls, the glorious Rama gave it to the bird on a lovely green lawn.
यत् तत् प्रेतस्य मर्त्यस्य कथयन्ति द्विजातयः । तत् स्वर्गगमनं पित्र्यं तस्य रामो जजाप ह ॥ ३४ ॥
What the twice-born say for a departed mortal, that ancestral going to heaven, Rama recited for him.
ततो गोदावरीं गत्वा नदीं नरवरात्मजौ । उदकं चक्रतुस्तस्मै गृध्रराजाय तावुभौ ॥ ३५ ॥
Then going to the river Godavari, the two sons of the best of men performed the water rite for that king of vultures.
शास्त्रदृष्टेन विधिना जलं गृध्राय राघवौ । स्नात्वा तौ गृध्रराजाय उदकं चक्रतुस्तदा ॥ ३६ ॥
By the rite seen in the shastras, the two Raghavas, having bathed, then offered water to the vulture, to the king of vultures.
स गृध्रराजः कृतवान् यशस्करं सुदुष्करं कर्म रणे निपातितः । महर्षिकल्पेन च संस्कृतस्तदा जगाम पुण्यां गतिमात्मनः शुभाम् ॥ ३७ ॥
That king of vultures, having done a glorious, very hard deed, struck down in battle, purified by one like a great seer, then went to his own holy, auspicious destination.
कृतोदकौ तावपि पक्षिसत्तमे स्थिरां च बुद्धिं प्रणिधाय जग्मतुः । प्रवेश्य सीताधिगमे ततो मनो वनं सुरेन्द्राविव विष्णुवासवौ ॥ ३८ ॥
Having offered water to the best of birds, the two, setting their minds firm, then went, having set their minds on finding Sita, into the forest, like the lords of the gods, Vishnu and Vasava.