Aranya Kanda, Sarga 68

रामस्सम्प्रेक्ष्य तं गृध्रं भुवि रौद्रेण पातितम्। सौमित्रिं मित्रसम्पन्नमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।।3.68.1।।

rāmassamprekṣya taṃ gṛdhraṃ bhuvi raudreṇa pātitam| saumitriṃ mitrasampannamidaṃ vacanamabravīt

Seeing the vulture lying on the ground thrown down by the fierce demon, Rama said to friendly Lakshmana:

ममायं नूनमर्थेषु यतमानो विहङ्गमः। राक्षसेन हतस्संख्ये प्राणांस्त्यक्ष्यति दुस्त्यजान्।।3.68.2।।

mamāyaṃ nūnamartheṣu yatamāno vihaṅgamaḥ| rākṣasena hatassaṃkhye prāṇāṃstyakṣyati dustyajān

Struck down by the demon in the combat on my account this bird is going to give up his life which is indeed difficult.

अयमस्य शरीरेऽस्मिन्प्राणो लक्ष्मण विद्यते। तथा हि स्वरहीनोऽयं विक्लबस्समुदीक्ष्यते।।3.68.3।।

ayamasya śarīre'sminprāṇo lakṣmaṇa vidyate| tathā hi svarahīno'yaṃ viklabassamudīkṣyate

O Lakshmana, it appears he is frightened and is experiencing excruciating pain in the body. His voice sounds faint, too.

जटायो यदि शक्नोषि वाक्यं व्याहरितुं पुनः। सीतामाख्याहि भद्रं ते वधमाख्याहि चात्मनः।।3.68.4।।

jaṭāyo yadi śaknoṣi vākyaṃ vyāharituṃ punaḥ| sītāmākhyāhi bhadraṃ te vadhamākhyāhi cātmanaḥ

O Jatayu If you are still able to speak, tell me about Sita and about how you have been struck down.

किं निमित्तोऽहरत्सीतां रावणस्तस्य किं मया। अपराद्धं तु यं दृष्ट्वा रावणेन हृता प्रिया।।3.68.5।।

kiṃ nimitto'haratsītāṃ rāvaṇastasya kiṃ mayā| aparāddhaṃ tu yaṃ dṛṣṭvā rāvaṇena hṛtā priyā

Why did Ravana abduct Sita? What fault did he find with me so that he kidnapped my beloved ?

कथं तच्चन्द्रसङ्काशं मुखमासीन्मनोहरम्। सीतया कानि चोक्तानि तस्मिन्काले द्विजोत्तम।।3.68.6।।

kathaṃ taccandrasaṅkāśaṃ mukhamāsīnmanoharam| sītayā kāni coktāni tasminkāle dvijottama

O best of birds how did her delightful, Moonlike face look when she was hijacked. What did she say at that time?

कथं वीर्यः कथं रूपः किं कर्मा स च राक्षसः। क्व चास्य भवनं तात ब्रूहि मे परिपृच्छतः।।3.68.7।।

kathaṃ vīryaḥ kathaṃ rūpaḥ kiṃ karmā sa ca rākṣasaḥ| kva cāsya bhavanaṃ tāta brūhi me paripṛcchataḥ

O father how powerful is that demon ? How does he look?What work does he do? Where does he dwell? Do answer my questions?

तमुद्वीक्ष्याथ दीनात्मा विलपन्तमनन्तरम्। वाचातिसन्नया रामं जटायुरिदमब्रवीत्।।3.68.8।।

tamudvīkṣyātha dīnātmā vilapantamanantaram| vācātisannayā rāmaṃ jaṭāyuridamabravīt

Thereafter Jatayu, a piteous soul, looked up at Rama who was crying incessantly and said this in a feeble voice:

हृता सा राक्षसेन्द्रेण रावणेन विहायसा। मायामास्थाय विपुलां वातदुर्दिनसङ्कुलाम्।।3.68.9।।

hṛtā sā rākṣasendreṇa rāvaṇena vihāyasā| māyāmāsthāya vipulāṃ vātadurdinasaṅkulām

Ravana, the lord of the demons created violent winds through terrific magic and whisked her away in the sky.

परिश्रान्तस्य मे तात पक्षौ छित्वा स राक्षसः। सीतामादाय वैदेहीं प्रयातो दक्षिणां दिशम्।।3.68.10।।

pariśrāntasya me tāta pakṣau chitvā sa rākṣasaḥ| sītāmādāya vaidehīṃ prayāto dakṣiṇāṃ diśam

O my child when I was exhausted, that demon cut off my wings and carried Sita off in the southern direction.

उपरुध्यन्ति मे प्राणा दृष्टिर्भ्रमति राघव। पश्यामि वृक्षान्सौवर्णानुशीरकृतमूर्धजान्।।3.68.11।।

uparudhyanti me prāṇā dṛṣṭirbhramati rāghava| paśyāmi vṛkṣānsauvarṇānuśīrakṛtamūrdhajān

O scion of the Raghu race, I am gasping for breath. My eyes are reeling. I see root hair growing on the tops of golden trees.

येन याति मुहूर्तेन सीतामादाय रावणः। विप्रणष्टं धनं क्षिप्रं तत्स्वामी प्रतिपद्यते।।3.68.12।। विन्दो नाम मुहूर्तोऽयं स च काकुत्स्थ नाबुधत्।

yena yāti muhūrtena sītāmādāya rāvaṇaḥ| vipraṇaṣṭaṃ dhanaṃ kṣipraṃ tatsvāmī pratipadyate vindo nāma muhūrto'yaṃ sa ca kākutstha nābudhat|

The time Ravana kidnapped Sita is known as 'Vinda'. The effect (of that time), is that her husband will regain his lost wealth. O scion of the Kakutstha race he (Ravana )did not know it.

त्वत्प्रियां जानकीं हृत्वा रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः।।3.68.13।। झषवद्बडिशं गृह्य क्षिप्रमेव विनश्यति।

tvatpriyāṃ jānakīṃ hṛtvā rāvaṇo rākṣaseśvaraḥ jhaṣavadbaḍiśaṃ gṛhya kṣiprameva vinaśyati|

Ravana, king of the demons, will perish soon for running away with your beloved Janaki just like a fish carrying away a fishhook (which causes its destruction).

न च त्वया व्यथा कार्या जनकस्य सुतां प्रति।।3.68.14।। वैदेह्या रंस्यसे क्षिप्रं हत्वा तं राक्षसं रणे।

na ca tvayā vyathā kāryā janakasya sutāṃ prati vaidehyā raṃsyase kṣipraṃ hatvā taṃ rākṣasaṃ raṇe|

You need not worry about Janaka's daughter. You will soon enjoy the company of your beloved, Vaidehi after killing that demon.

असम्मूढस्य गृध्रस्य रामं प्रत्यनुभाषतः।।3.68.15।। आस्यात्सुस्राव रुधिरं म्रियमाणस्य सामिषम्।

asammūḍhasya gṛdhrasya rāmaṃ pratyanubhāṣataḥ āsyātsusrāva rudhiraṃ mriyamāṇasya sāmiṣam|

As he(Jatayu) was speaking to Rama with an alert mind even while dying, blood mixed with flesh started oozing from Jatayu's mouth.

पुत्रो विश्रवसस्साक्षाद्भ्राता वैश्रवणस्य च।।3.68.16।। इत्युक्त्वा दुर्लभान्प्राणान्मुमोच पतगेश्वरः।

putro viśravasassākṣādbhrātā vaiśravaṇasya ca ityuktvā durlabhānprāṇānmumoca patageśvaraḥ|

Ravana was Visrava's son and Vaisravana's (Kubera's) brother, said Jatayu and gave up his rare life.

ब्रूहि ब्रूहीति रामस्य ब्रुवाणस्य कृताञ्जलेः।।3.68.17।। त्वक्त्वा शरीरं गृध्रस्य जग्मुः प्राणा विहायसम्।

brūhi brūhīti rāmasya bruvāṇasya kṛtāñjaleḥ tvaktvā śarīraṃ gṛdhrasya jagmuḥ prāṇā vihāyasam|

As Rama was saying to the vulture with folded palms 'Tell me, tell me'( about Ravana) the life breath of the vulture soared into the sky leaving the body.

स निक्षिप्य शिरो भूमौ प्रसार्य चरणौ तदा।।3.68.18।। विक्षिप्य च शरीरं स्वं पपात धरणीतले।

sa nikṣipya śiro bhūmau prasārya caraṇau tadā vikṣipya ca śarīraṃ svaṃ papāta dharaṇītale|

Then Jatayu dropped his head down, his feet thrown about, his body outstretched on earth.

तं गृध्रं प्रेक्ष्य ताम्राक्षं गतासुमचलोपमम्।।3.68.19।। रामस्सुबहुभिर्दुःखैर्दीनस्सौमित्रिमब्रवीत्।

taṃ gṛdhraṃ prekṣya tāmrākṣaṃ gatāsumacalopamam rāmassubahubhirduḥkhairdīnassaumitrimabravīt|

Stricken with deep grief, his eyes red (with tears) Rama saw the vulture looking like a mountain. Seeing him dead, he said to Lakshmana:

बहूनि रक्षसां वासे वर्षाणि वसता सुखम्।।3.68.20।। अनेन दण्डकारण्ये विशीर्णमिह पक्षिणा।

bahūni rakṣasāṃ vāse varṣāṇi vasatā sukham anena daṇḍakāraṇye viśīrṇamiha pakṣiṇā|

Dwelling for many years happily in Dandaka forest, the abode of demons, the bird lost his life (on our account).

अनेकवार्षिको यस्तु चिरकालसमुत्थितः।।3.68.21।। सोऽयमद्य हतश्शेते कालो हि दुरतिक्रमः।

anekavārṣiko yastu cirakālasamutthitaḥ so'yamadya hataśśete kālo hi duratikramaḥ|

This Jatayu, who lived for long years, is lying dead now. (The dictate of) destiny is inescapable.

पश्य लक्ष्मण गृध्रोऽयमुपकारी हतश्च मे।।3.68.22।। सीतामभ्यवपन्नो वै रावणेन बलीयसा।

paśya lakṣmaṇa gṛdhro'yamupakārī hataśca me sītāmabhyavapanno vai rāvaṇena balīyasā|

O Lakshmana, see this Jatayu, my benefactor, killed by the powerful Ravana while he was reaching out to help Sita.

गृध्रराज्यं परित्यज्य पितृपैतामहं महत्।।3.68.23।। मम हेतोरयं प्राणान्मुमोच पतगेश्वरः।

gṛdhrarājyaṃ parityajya pitṛpaitāmahaṃ mahat mama hetorayaṃ prāṇānmumoca patageśvaraḥ|

This lord of the birds left his ancestral kingdom of viltures and gave up life for my sake.

सर्वत्र खलु दृश्यन्ते साधवो धर्मचारिणः।।3.68.24।। शूराश्शरण्यास्सौमित्रे तिर्यग्योनिगतेष्वपि।

sarvatra khalu dṛśyante sādhavo dharmacāriṇaḥ śūrāśśaraṇyāssaumitre tiryagyonigateṣvapi|

O Lakshmana valiant souls and protectors, being righteous and honest are found even among animals and birds.

सीताहरणजं दुःखं न मे सौम्य तथाविधम्।।3.68.25।। यथा विनाशे गृध्रस्य मत्कृते च परन्तप।

sītāharaṇajaṃ duḥkhaṃ na me saumya tathāvidham yathā vināśe gṛdhrasya matkṛte ca parantapa|

O scorcher of enemies, O handsome Lakshmana the grief I experience due to Jatayu's death on my account is more intense than Sita's abduction.

राजा दशरथश्श्रीमान्यथा मम महायशाः।।3.68.26।। पूजनीयश्च मान्यश्च तथाऽयं पतगेश्वरः।

rājā daśarathaśśrīmānyathā mama mahāyaśāḥ pūjanīyaśca mānyaśca tathā'yaṃ patageśvaraḥ|

This lord of the birds for me is as worthy of reverence and honour as the famous and prosperous king Dasaratha.

सौमित्रे हर काष्ठानि निर्मथिष्यामि पावकम्।।3.68.27।। गृध्रराजं दिधक्षामि मत्कृते निधनं गतम्।

saumitre hara kāṣṭhāni nirmathiṣyāmi pāvakam gṛdhrarājaṃ didhakṣāmi matkṛte nidhanaṃ gatam|

O Saumitri fetch firewood. I shall generate fire by rubbing them and cremate the king of the birds who has laid down his life for my sake.

नाथं पतगलोकस्य चितामारोप्य राघव।।3.68.28।। इमं धक्ष्यामि सौमित्रे हतं रौद्रेण रक्षसा।

nāthaṃ patagalokasya citāmāropya rāghava imaṃ dhakṣyāmi saumitre hataṃ raudreṇa rakṣasā|

O scion of the Raghus I will place the body of the lord of the world of birds, killed by the fierce demon, on the funeral pyre and crimate him with honour.

या गतिर्यज्ञशीलानामाहिताग्नेश्च या गतिः।।3.68.29।। अपरावर्तिनां या च या च भूमिप्रदायिनाम्। मया त्वं समनुज्ञातो गच्छ लोकाननुत्तमान्।।3.68.30।। गृध्रराज महासत्त्व संस्कृतश्च मया व्रज।

yā gatiryajñaśīlānāmāhitāgneśca yā gatiḥ aparāvartināṃ yā ca yā ca bhūmipradāyinām| mayā tvaṃ samanujñāto gaccha lokānanuttamān gṛdhrarāja mahāsattva saṃskṛtaśca mayā vraja|

O mighty lord of the birds by my grace attain the state of those who perform sacrifices, who kindle and maintain sacrificial fires, who beat no retreat from the battlefield and who offer land in charity. Purified by my offering of fire, you may depart for the best of the worlds.

या गतिर्यज्ञशीलानामाहिताग्नेश्च या गतिः।।3.68.29।। अपरावर्तिनां या च या च भूमिप्रदायिनाम्। मया त्वं समनुज्ञातो गच्छ लोकाननुत्तमान्।।3.68.30।। गृध्रराज महासत्त्व संस्कृतश्च मया व्रज।

yā gatiryajñaśīlānāmāhitāgneśca yā gatiḥ aparāvartināṃ yā ca yā ca bhūmipradāyinām| mayā tvaṃ samanujñāto gaccha lokānanuttamān gṛdhrarāja mahāsattva saṃskṛtaśca mayā vraja|

O mighty lord of the birds by my grace attain the state of those who perform sacrifices, who kindle and maintain sacrificial fires, who beat no retreat from the battlefield and who offer land in charity. Purified by my offering of fire, you may depart for the best of the worlds.

एवमुक्त्वा चितां दीप्तामारोप्य पतगेश्वरम्।।3.68.31।। ददाह रामो धर्मात्मा स्वबन्धुमिव दुःखितः।

evamuktvā citāṃ dīptāmāropya patageśvaram dadāha rāmo dharmātmā svabandhumiva duḥkhitaḥ|

Thus said, righteous Rama laid him on the pyre and sadly cremated the lord of the birds as one would do to his own relative.

रामोऽथ सहसौमित्रिर्वनं गत्वा स वीर्यवान्।।3.68.32।। स्थूलान्हत्वा महारोहीननुतस्तार तं द्विजम्।

rāmo'tha sahasaumitrirvanaṃ gatvā sa vīryavān sthūlānhatvā mahārohīnanutastāra taṃ dvijam|

Then the mighty Rama, accompanied by Saumitri, got into the forest and killed a huge deer, brought it and spread it as an offering (to the dead Jatayu).

रोहिमांसानि चोत्कृत्य पेशीकृत्य महायशाः।।3.68.33।। शकुनाय ददौ रामो रम्ये हरितशाद्वले।

rohimāṃsāni cotkṛtya peśīkṛtya mahāyaśāḥ śakunāya dadau rāmo ramye haritaśādvale|

Tearing the flesh of the deer to pieces and making them into balls, the celebrated Rama laid it on a lovely, green grassy land as offering to the bird.

यत्तत्प्रेतस्य मर्त्यस्य कथयन्ति द्विजातयः।।3.68.34।। तत्स्वर्गगमनं तस्य पित्र्यं रामो जजाप ह।

yattatpretasya martyasya kathayanti dvijātayaḥ tatsvargagamanaṃ tasya pitryaṃ rāmo jajāpa ha|

Rama muttered the mantras recommended by brahmins for dead mortals as one would do for his father, to help him ascend to heaven.

ततो गोदावरीं गत्वा नदीं नरवरात्मजौ।।3.68.35।। उदकं चक्रतुस्तस्मै गृध्रराजाय तावुभौ।

tato godāvarīṃ gatvā nadīṃ naravarātmajau udakaṃ cakratustasmai gṛdhrarājāya tāvubhau|

Then both the princes went down to river Godavari and offered libations for the king of vultures.

शास्त्रदृष्टेन विधिना जले गृध्राय राघवौ।।3.68.36।। स्नात्वा तौ गृध्रराजाय उदकं चक्रतुस्तदा।

śāstradṛṣṭena vidhinā jale gṛdhrāya rāghavau snātvā tau gṛdhrarājāya udakaṃ cakratustadā|

Thereafter both the scions of the Raghu dynasty bathed in water, offered libations for the king of vultures as ordained in the scriptures.

स गृध्रराजः कृतवान्यशस्करं सुदुष्करं कर्म रणे निपातितः। महर्षिकल्पेन च संस्कृतस्तदा जगाम पुण्यां गतिमात्मनश्शुभाम्।।3.68.37।।

sa gṛdhrarājaḥ kṛtavānyaśaskaraṃ suduṣkaraṃ karma raṇe nipātitaḥ| maharṣikalpena ca saṃskṛtastadā jagāma puṇyāṃ gatimātmanaśśubhām

The king of vultures had performed a very difficult and glorious feat by laying down his life fighting. Sanctified by Rama's offering as laid down in scriptures by the seers, he attained a holy, auspicious and divine state of the self.

कृतोदकौ तावपि पक्षिसत्तमे स्थिरां च बुद्धिं प्रणिधाय जग्मतुः। प्रवेश्य सीताधिगमे ततो मनो वनं सुरेन्द्रविव विष्णुवासवौ।।3.68.38।।

kṛtodakau tāvapi pakṣisattame sthirāṃ ca buddhiṃ praṇidhāya jagmatuḥ| praveśya sītādhigame tato mano vanaṃ surendraviva viṣṇuvāsavau

Rama and Lakshmana, like two lords of gods, Indra and Visnu, offered libations for the great bird with their settled minds and concentrated and then entered deeper into the forest turning their attention to the search for Sita. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे अष्टषष्टितमस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the sixtyeighth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.