Jatayu, Friend of the King

Shloka 1 (aranya.14.1)

अथ पञ्चवटीं गच्छन्नन्तरा रघुनन्दनः । आससाद महाकायं गृध्रं भीमपराक्रमम् ॥ 14.1 ॥

atha pañcavaṭīṃ gacchannantarā raghunandanaḥ | āsasāda mahākāyaṃ gṛdhraṃ bhīmaparākramam || 14.1 ||

Then, as the delight of the Raghus was going toward Panchavati, he came upon, midway, a vulture of immense body and fearsome might.

Shloka 2 (aranya.14.2)

तं दृष्ट्वा तौ महाभागौ वनस्थं रामलक्ष्मणौ । मेनाते राक्षसं पक्षिं ब्रुवाणौ को भवानिति ॥ 14.2 ॥

taṃ dṛṣṭvā tau mahābhāgau vanasthaṃ rāmalakṣmaṇau | menāte rākṣasaṃ pakṣiṃ bruvāṇau ko bhavāniti || 14.2 ||

Seeing him there in the forest, the two illustrious brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, took the bird for a rakshasa, and asked, "Who are you?"

Shloka 3 (aranya.14.3)

स तौ मधुरया वाचा सौम्यया प्रीणयन्निव । उवाच वत्स मां विद्धि वयस्यं पितुरात्मनः ॥ 14.3 ॥

sa tau madhurayā vācā saumyayā prīṇayanniva | uvāca vatsa māṃ viddhi vayasyaṃ piturātmanaḥ || 14.3 ||

He, as though to gladden them, spoke to the two in a sweet and gentle voice: "Know me, dear child, as a friend of your own father."

Shloka 4 (aranya.14.4)

स तं पितृसखं मत्वा पूजयामास राघवः । स तस्य कुलमव्यग्रमथ पप्रच्छ नाम च ॥ 14.4 ॥

sa taṃ pitṛsakhaṃ matvā pūjayāmāsa rāghavaḥ | sa tasya kulamavyagramatha papraccha nāma ca || 14.4 ||

Considering him a friend of his father, Raghava paid him honour, and then calmly asked him of his lineage and his name.

Shloka 5 (aranya.14.5)

रामस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा कुलमात्मानमेव च । आचचक्षे द्विजस्तस्मै सर्वभूतसमुद्भवम् ॥ 14.5 ॥

rāmasya vacanaṃ śrutvā kulamātmānameva ca | ācacakṣe dvijastasmai sarvabhūtasamudbhavam || 14.5 ||

Hearing Rama's question, the bird told him of his own lineage and self, and in doing so related the origin of all beings.

Shloka 6 (aranya.14.6)

पूर्वकाले महाबाहो ये प्रजापतयोऽभवन् । तान् मे निगदतः सर्वानादितः शृणु राघव ॥ 14.6 ॥

pūrvakāle mahābāho ye prajāpatayo'bhavan | tān me nigadataḥ sarvānāditaḥ śṛṇu rāghava || 14.6 ||

"O mighty-armed one, listen from the beginning as I tell of all the Prajapatis who came into being in ancient times, O Raghava.

Shloka 7 (aranya.14.7)

कर्दमः प्रथमस्तेषां विकृतस्तदनन्तरम् । शेषश्च संश्रयश्चैव बहुपुत्रश्च वीर्यवान् ॥ 14.7 ॥

kardamaḥ prathamasteṣāṃ vikṛtastadanantaram | śeṣaśca saṃśrayaścaiva bahuputraśca vīryavān || 14.7 ||

First among them was Kardama, then Vikrita; then Shesha, and Sanshraya too, mighty and blessed with many sons.

Shloka 8 (aranya.14.8)

स्थाणुर्मरीचिरत्रिश्च क्रतुश्चैव महाबलः । पुलस्त्यश्चाङ्गिराश्चैव प्रचेताः पुलहस्तथा ॥ 14.8 ॥

sthāṇurmarīciratriśca kratuścaiva mahābalaḥ | pulastyaścāṅgirāścaiva pracetāḥ pulahastathā || 14.8 ||

Sthanu, Marichi, and Atri, and mighty Kratu; Pulastya, and Angiras, Pracheta, and likewise Pulaha.

Shloka 9 (aranya.14.9)

दक्षो विवस्वानपरोऽरिष्टनेमिश्च राघव । कश्यपश्च महातेजास्तेषामासीच्च पश्चिमः ॥ 14.9 ॥

dakṣo vivasvānaparo'riṣṭanemiśca rāghava | kaśyapaśca mahātejāsteṣāmāsīcca paścimaḥ || 14.9 ||

Daksha, and Vivasvat, and also Arishtanemi, O Raghava; and last among them was the greatly radiant Kashyapa.

Shloka 10 (aranya.14.10)

प्रजापतेस्तु दक्षस्य बभूवुरिति नः श्रुतम् । षष्टिर्दुहितरो राम यशस्विन्यो महायशः ॥ 14.10 ॥

prajāpatestu dakṣasya babhūvuriti naḥ śrutam | ṣaṣṭirduhitaro rāma yaśasvinyo mahāyaśaḥ || 14.10 ||

Of the Prajapati Daksha there were, as is well known, O illustrious Rama, sixty daughters, all of great renown.

Shloka 11 (aranya.14.11)

कश्यपः प्रतिजग्राह तासामष्टौ सुमध्यमाः । अदितिं च दितिं चैव दनुमपि च कालकाम् ॥ 14.11 ॥

kaśyapaḥ pratijagrāha tāsāmaṣṭau sumadhyamāḥ | aditiṃ ca ditiṃ caiva danumapi ca kālakām || 14.11 ||

Of these, Kashyapa took to wife eight slender-waisted maidens: Aditi, and Diti, and Danu, and also Kalaka,

Shloka 12 (aranya.14.12)

ताम्रां क्रोधवशां चैव मनुं चाप्यनलामपि । तास्तु कन्यास्ततः प्रीतः कश्यपः पुनरब्रवीत् ॥ 14.12 ॥

tāmrāṃ krodhavaśāṃ caiva manuṃ cāpyanalāmapi | tāstu kanyāstataḥ prītaḥ kaśyapaḥ punarabravīt || 14.12 ||

and Tamra, and Krodhavasha, and Manu, and also Anala. Then, pleased with those maidens, Kashyapa spoke again:

Shloka 13 (aranya.14.13)

पुत्रांस्त्रैलोक्यभर्तॄन् वै जनयिष्यथ मत्समान् । अदितिस्तन्मना राम दितिश्च दनुरेव च ॥ 14.13 ॥

putrāṃstrailokyabhartṝn vai janayiṣyatha matsamān | aditistanmanā rāma ditiśca danureva ca || 14.13 ||

"You shall bear sons like myself, sustainers of the three worlds." To this, O Rama, Aditi agreed wholeheartedly, and so did Diti and Danu,

Shloka 14 (aranya.14.14)

कालका च महाबाहो शेषास्त्वमनसोऽभवन् । अदित्यां जज्ञिरे देवास्त्रयस्त्रिंशदरिंदम ॥ 14.14 ॥

kālakā ca mahābāho śeṣāstvamanaso'bhavan | adityāṃ jajñire devāstrayastriṃśadariṃdama || 14.14 ||

and Kalaka too, O mighty-armed one; but the rest were unwilling. From Aditi, O subduer of foes, were born the thirty-three gods —

Shloka 15 (aranya.14.15)

आदित्या वसवो रुद्रा अश्विनौ च परंतप । दितिस्त्वजनयत् पुत्रान् दैत्यांस्तात यशस्विनः ॥ 14.15 ॥

ādityā vasavo rudrā aśvinau ca paraṃtapa | ditistvajanayat putrān daityāṃstāta yaśasvinaḥ || 14.15 ||

— the Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, and the two Ashvins, O scorcher of foes. And Diti, dear one, gave birth to sons, the renowned Daityas.

Shloka 16 (aranya.14.16)

तेषामियं वसुमती पुरासीत् सवनार्णवा । दनुस्त्वजनयत् पुत्रमश्वग्रीवमरिंदम ॥ 14.16 ॥

teṣāmiyaṃ vasumatī purāsīt savanārṇavā | danustvajanayat putramaśvagrīvamariṃdama || 14.16 ||

This earth, with its forests and oceans, belonged to them of old. And Danu, O subduer of foes, gave birth to a son, Ashvagriva,

Shloka 17 (aranya.14.17)

नरकं कालकं चैव कालकापि व्यजायत । क्रौञ्चीं भासीं तथा श्येनीं धृतराष्ट्रीं तथा शुकीम् ॥ 14.17 ॥

narakaṃ kālakaṃ caiva kālakāpi vyajāyata | krauñcīṃ bhāsīṃ tathā śyenīṃ dhṛtarāṣṭrīṃ tathā śukīm || 14.17 ||

— and Kalaka too gave birth to Naraka and Kalaka. And Tamra brought forth Krauñchi, and Bhasi, and Shyeni, Dhritarashtri, and Shuki —

Shloka 18 (aranya.14.18)

ताम्रापि सुषुवे कन्याः पञ्चैता लोकविश्रुताः । उलूकाञ् जनयत् क्रौञ्ची भासी भासान् व्यजायत ॥ 14.18 ॥

tāmrāpi suṣuve kanyāḥ pañcaitā lokaviśrutāḥ | ulūkāñ janayat krauñcī bhāsī bhāsān vyajāyata || 14.18 ||

— these five daughters, renowned throughout the world. Krauñchi gave birth to owls, and Bhasi brought forth vultures,

Shloka 19 (aranya.14.19)

श्येनी श्येनांश्च गृध्रांश्च व्यजायत सुतेजसः । धृतराष्ट्री तु हंसांश्च कलहंसांश्च सर्वशः ॥ 14.19 ॥

śyenī śyenāṃśca gṛdhrāṃśca vyajāyata sutejasaḥ | dhṛtarāṣṭrī tu haṃsāṃśca kalahaṃsāṃśca sarvaśaḥ || 14.19 ||

and Shyeni gave birth to hawks and to eagles of great splendour, while Dhritarashtri brought forth swans, and every kind of gentle water-fowl,

Shloka 20 (aranya.14.20)

चक्रवाकांश्च भद्रं ते विजज्ञे सापि भामिनी । शुकी नतां विजज्ञे तु नताया विनता सुता ॥ 14.20 ॥

cakravākāṃśca bhadraṃ te vijajñe sāpi bhāminī | śukī natāṃ vijajñe tu natāyā vinatā sutā || 14.20 ||

— and that lovely one, may fortune attend you, also gave birth to ruddy geese. And Shuki gave birth to Nata, and Nata's daughter was Vinata.

Shloka 21 (aranya.14.21)

दश क्रोधवशा राम विजज्ञेऽप्यात्मसम्भवाः । मृगीं च मृगमन्दां च हरीं भद्रमदामपि ॥ 14.21 ॥

daśa krodhavaśā rāma vijajñe'pyātmasambhavāḥ | mṛgīṃ ca mṛgamandāṃ ca harīṃ bhadramadāmapi || 14.21 ||

Krodhavasha, O Rama, gave birth to ten daughters resembling herself: Mrigi, and Mrigamanda, and Hari, and Bhadramada,

Shloka 22 (aranya.14.22)

मातंगीमथ शार्दूलीं श्वेतां च सुरभीं तथा । सर्वलक्षणसम्पन्नां सुरसां कद्रुकामपि ॥ 14.22 ॥

mātaṃgīmatha śārdūlīṃ śvetāṃ ca surabhīṃ tathā | sarvalakṣaṇasampannāṃ surasāṃ kadrukāmapi || 14.22 ||

and Matangi, and Shardūli, and Shveta, and Surabhi too, and Surasa, endowed with every excellent mark, and Kadru as well.

Shloka 23 (aranya.14.23)

अपत्यं तु मृगाः सर्वे मृग्या नरवरोत्तम । ऋक्षाश्च मृगमन्दायाः सृमराश्चमरास्तथा ॥ 14.23 ॥

apatyaṃ tu mṛgāḥ sarve mṛgyā naravarottama | ṛkṣāśca mṛgamandāyāḥ sṛmarāścamarāstathā || 14.23 ||

All deer, O best of men, are the offspring of Mrigi; and from Mrigamanda came bears, and sṛimaras, and yaks.

Shloka 24 (aranya.14.24)

ततस्त्विरावतीं नाम जज्ञे भद्रमदा सुताम् । तस्यास्त्वैरावतः पुत्रो लोकनाथो महागजः ॥ 14.24 ॥

tatastvirāvatīṃ nāma jajñe bhadramadā sutām | tasyāstvairāvataḥ putro lokanātho mahāgajaḥ || 14.24 ||

Then Bhadramada bore a daughter named Iravati, whose son was the great elephant Airavata, lord among his kind.

Shloka 25 (aranya.14.25)

हर्याश्च हरयोऽपत्यं वानराश्च तपस्विनः । गोलाङ्गूलांश्च शार्दूली व्याघ्रांश्चाजनयत् सुतान् ॥ 14.25 ॥

haryāśca harayo'patyaṃ vānarāśca tapasvinaḥ | golāṅgūlāṃśca śārdūlī vyāghrāṃścājanayat sutān || 14.25 ||

From Hari came lions as offspring, and also the disciplined monkeys and langurs; and Shardūli gave birth to tigers as her sons.

Shloka 26 (aranya.14.26)

मातंग्यास्त्वथ मातंगा अपत्यं मनुजर्षभ । दिशागजं तु श्वेताक्षं श्वेता व्यजनयत् सुतम् ॥ 14.26 ॥

mātaṃgyāstvatha mātaṃgā apatyaṃ manujarṣabha | diśāgajaṃ tu śvetākṣaṃ śvetā vyajanayat sutam || 14.26 ||

From Matangi, O bull among men, came the offspring of elephants of that name; and Shveta, O scion of Kakutstha, gave birth to the elephants guarding the quarters of the sky.

Shloka 27 (aranya.14.27)

ततो दुहितरौ राम सुरभिर्देव्यजायत । रोहिणीं नाम भद्रं ते गन्धर्वीं च यशस्विनीम् ॥ 14.27 ॥

tato duhitarau rāma surabhirdevyajāyata | rohiṇīṃ nāma bhadraṃ te gandharvīṃ ca yaśasvinīm || 14.27 ||

Then, O Rama, Surabhi gave birth to two daughters — Rohini by name, may good befall you, and the renowned Gandharvi.

Shloka 28 (aranya.14.28)

रोहिण्यजनयद् गा वै गन्धर्वी वाजिनः सुतान् । सुरसाजनयन् नागान् राम कद्रूश्च पन्नगान् ॥ 14.28 ॥

rohiṇyajanayad gā vai gandharvī vājinaḥ sutān | surasājanayan nāgān rāma kadrūśca pannagān || 14.28 ||

Rohini gave birth to cows, and Gandharvi to horses as her offspring; Surasa gave birth to the great serpent-nagas, and Kadru, O Rama, to ordinary serpents.

Shloka 29 (aranya.14.29)

मनुर्मनुष्याञ् जनयत् कश्यपस्य महात्मनः । ब्राह्मणान् क्षत्रियान् वैश्याञ् शूद्रांश्च मनुजर्षभ ॥ 14.29 ॥

manurmanuṣyāñ janayat kaśyapasya mahātmanaḥ | brāhmaṇān kṣatriyān vaiśyāñ śūdrāṃśca manujarṣabha || 14.29 ||

Manu, wife of the great-souled Kashyapa, gave birth to humankind — Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras, O bull among men.

Shloka 30 (aranya.14.30)

मुखतो ब्राह्मणा जाता उरसः क्षत्रियास्तथा । ऊरुभ्यां जज्ञिरे वैश्याः पद्भ्यां शूद्रा इति श्रुतिः ॥ 14.30 ॥

mukhato brāhmaṇā jātā urasaḥ kṣatriyāstathā | ūrubhyāṃ jajñire vaiśyāḥ padbhyāṃ śūdrā iti śrutiḥ || 14.30 ||

From the mouth were born the Brahmins, from the chest likewise the Kshatriyas; from the thighs came the Vaishyas, and from the feet the Shudras — so says the sacred tradition.

Shloka 31 (aranya.14.31)

सर्वान् पुण्यफलान् वृक्षाननलापि व्यजायत । विनता च शुकी पौत्री कद्रूश्च सुरसा स्वसा ॥ 14.31 ॥

sarvān puṇyaphalān vṛkṣānanalāpi vyajāyata | vinatā ca śukī pautrī kadrūśca surasā svasā || 14.31 ||

Anala gave birth to all the trees bearing sacred fruit. Now, Vinata was the granddaughter of Shuki, and Kadru was the sister of Surasa.

Shloka 32 (aranya.14.32)

कद्रूर्नागं सहस्रं तु विजज्ञे धरणीधरम् । द्वौ पुत्रौ विनतायास्तु गरुडोऽरुण एव च ॥ 14.32 ॥

kadrūrnāgaṃ sahasraṃ tu vijajñe dharaṇīdharam | dvau putrau vinatāyāstu garuḍo'ruṇa eva ca || 14.32 ||

Kadru gave birth to a thousand serpents, along with the earth-bearing serpent-king; and to Vinata were born two sons, Garuda and Aruna.

Shloka 33 (aranya.14.33)

तस्माज्जातोऽहमरुणात् सम्पातिश्च ममाग्रजः । जटायुरिति मां विद्धि श्येनीपुत्रमरिंदम ॥ 14.33 ॥

tasmājjāto'hamaruṇāt sampātiśca mamāgrajaḥ | jaṭāyuriti māṃ viddhi śyenīputramariṃdama || 14.33 ||

From that Aruna I was born, and Sampati is my elder brother. Know me, O subduer of foes, as Jatayu, son of that line of Shyeni.

Shloka 34 (aranya.14.34)

सोऽहं वाससहायस्ते भविष्यामि यदीच्छसि । इदं दुर्गं हि कान्तारं मृगराक्षससेवितम् । सीतां च तात रक्षिष्ये त्वयि याते सलक्ष्मणे ॥ 14.34 ॥

so'haṃ vāsasahāyaste bhaviṣyāmi yadīcchasi | idaṃ durgaṃ hi kāntāraṃ mṛgarākṣasasevitam | sītāṃ ca tāta rakṣiṣye tvayi yāte salakṣmaṇe || 14.34 ||

If you so wish, I shall be your companion in this dwelling; for this dense forest is frequented by wild beasts and rakshasas. And, dear one, I shall guard Sita when you and Lakshmana go forth."

Shloka 35 (aranya.14.35)

जटायुषं तु प्रतिपूज्य राघवो मुदा परिष्वज्य च संनतोऽभवत् । पितुर्हि शुश्राव सखित्वमात्मवाञ् जटायुषा संकथितं पुनः पुनः ॥ 14.35 ॥

jaṭāyuṣaṃ tu pratipūjya rāghavo mudā pariṣvajya ca saṃnato'bhavat | piturhi śuśrāva sakhitvamātmavāñ jaṭāyuṣā saṃkathitaṃ punaḥ punaḥ || 14.35 ||

Raghava, with joy, honoured and embraced Jatayu, and bowed before him; for that self-possessed one had heard, told again and again by Jatayu himself, of his friendship with his father.

Shloka 36 (aranya.14.36)

स तत्र सीतां परिदाय मैथिलीं सहैव तेनातिबलेन पक्षिणा । जगाम तां पञ्चवटीं सलक्ष्मणो रिपून् दिधक्षञ् शलभानिवानलः ॥ 14.36 ॥

sa tatra sītāṃ paridāya maithilīṃ sahaiva tenātibalena pakṣiṇā | jagāma tāṃ pañcavaṭīṃ salakṣmaṇo ripūn didhakṣañ śalabhānivānalaḥ || 14.36 ||

Then, entrusting Sita, the princess of Mithila, to the care of that mighty bird, he, with Lakshmana, went on to Panchavati — like fire eager to consume its foes as though they were mere locusts.