Jatayu's Battle with Ravana

Shloka 1 (aranya.51.1)

इति उक्तः क्रोध ताम्राक्षः तप्त कांचन कुण्डलः । राक्षसेन्द्रो अभिदुद्राव पतगेन्द्रम् अमर्षणः ॥ 51.1 ॥

iti uktaḥ krodha tāmrākṣaḥ tapta kāṃcana kuṇḍalaḥ | rākṣasendro abhidudrāva patagendram amarṣaṇaḥ || 51.1 ||

Addressed thus, Ravana, his eyes reddening with fury and his burnished gold earrings flashing, could not contain his rage and charged at the lord of birds.

Shloka 2 (aranya.51.2)

स संप्रहारः तुमुलः तयोः तस्मिन् महा मृधे । बभूव वात उद्धतयोः मेघयोः गगने यथा ॥ 51.2 ॥

sa saṃprahāraḥ tumulaḥ tayoḥ tasmin mahā mṛdhe | babhūva vāta uddhatayoḥ meghayoḥ gagane yathā || 51.2 ||

That fierce clash between the two of them in the great battle became as tumultuous as two storm-driven clouds colliding in the sky.

Shloka 3 (aranya.51.3)

तत् बभूव अद्भुतम् युद्धम् गृध्र राक्षसयोः तदा । सपक्षयोः माल्यवतोः महा पर्वतयोः इव ॥ 51.3 ॥

tat babhūva adbhutam yuddham gṛdhra rākṣasayoḥ tadā | sapakṣayoḥ mālyavatoḥ mahā parvatayoḥ iva || 51.3 ||

That combat between the eagle and the demon was then astonishing, like a battle between two winged Malyavan mountains.

Shloka 4 (aranya.51.4)

ततो नालीक नाराचैः तीक्ष्ण अग्रैः च विकर्णिभिः । अभ्यवर्षत् महाघोरैः गृध्र राजम् महाबलः ॥ 51.4 ॥

tato nālīka nārācaiḥ tīkṣṇa agraiḥ ca vikarṇibhiḥ | abhyavarṣat mahāghoraiḥ gṛdhra rājam mahābalaḥ || 51.4 ||

Then the mighty Ravana rained upon the king of eagles a terrible shower of naalika and naaraca arrows, sharp-tipped and crescent-headed.

Shloka 5 (aranya.51.5)

स तानि शर जालानि गृध्रः पत्ररथ ईश्वरः । जटायुः प्रतिजग्राह रावण अस्त्राणि संयुगे ॥ 51.5 ॥

sa tāni śara jālāni gṛdhraḥ patraratha īśvaraḥ | jaṭāyuḥ pratijagrāha rāvaṇa astrāṇi saṃyuge || 51.5 ||

Jatayu, that lord among winged creatures, withstood in the combat those showers of Ravana's arrows.

Shloka 6 (aranya.51.6)

तस्य तीक्ष्ण नखाभ्याम् तु चरणाभ्याम् महाबलः । चकार बहुधा गात्रे व्रणान् पतग सत्तमः ॥ 51.6 ॥

tasya tīkṣṇa nakhābhyām tu caraṇābhyām mahābalaḥ | cakāra bahudhā gātre vraṇān pataga sattamaḥ || 51.6 ||

And that mighty best of birds tore many gashes into Ravana's body with his sharp-clawed feet.

Shloka 7 (aranya.51.7)

अथ क्रोधात् दशग्रीवः जग्राह दश मार्गणान् । मृत्यु दण्ड निभान् घोरान् शत्रोर् निधन कान्क्षया ॥ 51.7 ॥

atha krodhāt daśagrīvaḥ jagrāha daśa mārgaṇān | mṛtyu daṇḍa nibhān ghorān śatror nidhana kānkṣayā || 51.7 ||

Then, enraged, the ten-necked Ravana, wishing to end his enemy's life, took up ten terrible arrows resembling the very rod of Death.

Shloka 8 (aranya.51.8)

स तैः बाणैः महावीर्यः पूर्ण मुक्तैः अजिह्म गैः । बिभेद निशितैः तीक्ष्णैः गृध्रम् घोरैः शिली मुखैः ॥ 51.8 ॥

sa taiḥ bāṇaiḥ mahāvīryaḥ pūrṇa muktaiḥ ajihma gaiḥ | bibheda niśitaiḥ tīkṣṇaiḥ gṛdhram ghoraiḥ śilī mukhaiḥ || 51.8 ||

With those sharp, straight-flying arrows, keen and dreadful, loosed at full draw, that mighty one pierced the eagle.

Shloka 9 (aranya.51.9)

स राक्षस रथे पश्यन् जानकीम् बाष्प लोचनाम् । अचिंतयित्वा बाणाम् तान् राक्षसम् समभिद्रवत् ॥ 51.9 ॥

sa rākṣasa rathe paśyan jānakīm bāṣpa locanām | aciṃtayitvā bāṇām tān rākṣasam samabhidravat || 51.9 ||

Seeing Janaki with tear-filled eyes in the demon's chariot, Jatayu, heedless of the arrows, charged straight at the demon.

Shloka 10 (aranya.51.10)

ततो अस्य सशरम् चापम् मुक्ता मणि विभूषितम् । चरणाभ्याम् महातेजा बभंज पतगोत्तमः ॥ 51.10 ॥

tato asya saśaram cāpam muktā maṇi vibhūṣitam | caraṇābhyām mahātejā babhaṃja patagottamaḥ || 51.10 ||

Then that most glorious of birds shattered with his feet Ravana's bow, strung with an arrow and adorned with pearls and gems.

Shloka 11 (aranya.51.11)

ततो अन्यत् धनुः आदाय रावणः क्रोध मूर्च्छितः । ववर्ष शर वर्षाणि शतशो अथ सहस्रशः ॥ 51.11 ॥

tato anyat dhanuḥ ādāya rāvaṇaḥ krodha mūrcchitaḥ | vavarṣa śara varṣāṇi śataśo atha sahasraśaḥ || 51.11 ||

Ravana, beside himself with rage, took up another bow and rained down showers of arrows by the hundreds and thousands.

Shloka 12 (aranya.51.12)

शरैः आवारितः तस्य संयुगे पतगेश्वरः । कुलायम् अभिसंप्राप्तः पक्षिः इव बभौ तदा ॥ 51.12 ॥

śaraiḥ āvāritaḥ tasya saṃyuge patageśvaraḥ | kulāyam abhisaṃprāptaḥ pakṣiḥ iva babhau tadā || 51.12 ||

Enveloped by his arrows in that battle, the lord of birds then looked like a bird settled into its own nest.

Shloka 13 (aranya.51.13)

स तानि शर जालानि पक्षाभ्याम् तु विधूय ह । चरणाभ्याम् महातेजा बभंज अस्य महत् धनुः ॥ 51.13 ॥

sa tāni śara jālāni pakṣābhyām tu vidhūya ha | caraṇābhyām mahātejā babhaṃja asya mahat dhanuḥ || 51.13 ||

That radiant Jatayu shook off those masses of arrows with his wings and then shattered Ravana's great bow with his feet.

Shloka 14 (aranya.51.14)

तत् च अग्नि सदृशम् दीप्तम् रावणस्य शरावरम् । पक्षाभ्याम् च महातेजा व्यधुनोत् पतगेश्वरः ॥ 51.14 ॥

tat ca agni sadṛśam dīptam rāvaṇasya śarāvaram | pakṣābhyām ca mahātejā vyadhunot patageśvaraḥ || 51.14 ||

That splendid lord of birds also tore away with his wings Ravana's blazing armour, which shone like fire.

Shloka 15 (aranya.51.15)

कांचन उरः छदान् दिव्यान् पिशाच वदनान् खरान् । तान् च अस्य जव संपन्नान् जघान समरे बली ॥ 51.15 ॥

kāṃcana uraḥ chadān divyān piśāca vadanān kharān | tān ca asya java saṃpannān jaghāna samare balī || 51.15 ||

And that mighty bird also killed in battle the swift, ghoul-faced mules of Ravana's chariot, which wore marvellous golden breastplates.

Shloka 16 (aranya.51.16)

अथ त्रिवेणु संपन्नम् कामगम् पावक अर्चिषम् । मणि सोपान चित्र अंगम् बभंज च महारथम् ॥ 51.16 ॥

atha triveṇu saṃpannam kāmagam pāvaka arciṣam | maṇi sopāna citra aṃgam babhaṃja ca mahāratham || 51.16 ||

Then he also smashed that great chariot with its triple bamboo pole, which moved at will, blazed like fire, and was wondrously wrought with gem-studded steps.

Shloka 17 (aranya.51.17)

पूर्ण चन्द्र प्रतीकाशम् छत्रम् च व्यजनैः सह । पातयामास वेगेन ग्राहिभी राक्षसैः सह ॥ 51.17 ॥

pūrṇa candra pratīkāśam chatram ca vyajanaiḥ saha | pātayāmāsa vegena grāhibhī rākṣasaiḥ saha || 51.17 ||

He swiftly knocked down the parasol that shone like the full moon, together with the fans and the demons who held them.

Shloka 18 (aranya.51.18)

सारथेः च अस्य वेगेन तुण्डेन च महत् शिरः । पुनः व्यपाहरत् श्रीमान् पक्षिराजो महाबलः ॥ 51.18 ॥

sāratheḥ ca asya vegena tuṇḍena ca mahat śiraḥ | punaḥ vyapāharat śrīmān pakṣirājo mahābalaḥ || 51.18 ||

And that glorious, mighty king of birds swiftly struck off the great head of Ravana's charioteer with his beak.

Shloka 19 (aranya.51.19)

स भग्न धन्वा विरथो हत अश्वो हत सारथिः । अंकेन आदाय वैदेहीम् पपात भुवि रावणः ॥ 51.19 ॥

sa bhagna dhanvā viratho hata aśvo hata sārathiḥ | aṃkena ādāya vaidehīm papāta bhuvi rāvaṇaḥ || 51.19 ||

His bow broken, his chariot gone, his horses killed and his charioteer dead, Ravana leapt down to the ground clutching Vaidehi to his side.

Shloka 20 (aranya.51.20)

दृष्ट्वा निपतितम् भूमौ रावणम् भग्न वाहनम् । साधु साधु इति भूतानि गृध्र राजम् अपूजयन् ॥ 51.20 ॥

dṛṣṭvā nipatitam bhūmau rāvaṇam bhagna vāhanam | sādhu sādhu iti bhūtāni gṛdhra rājam apūjayan || 51.20 ||

Seeing Ravana fallen to earth with his vehicle destroyed, all beings cried 'well done, well done!' in praise of the king of eagles.

Shloka 21 (aranya.51.21)

परिश्रान्तम् तु तम् दृष्ट्वा जरया पक्षि यूथपम् । उत्पपात पुनर् हृष्टो मैथिलीम् गृह्य रावणः ॥ 51.21 ॥

pariśrāntam tu tam dṛṣṭvā jarayā pakṣi yūthapam | utpapāta punar hṛṣṭo maithilīm gṛhya rāvaṇaḥ || 51.21 ||

But seeing that commander of birds exhausted by old age, Ravana, delighted, seized Maithili and rose up into the sky again.

Shloka 22 (aranya.51.22)

तम् प्रहृष्टम् निधाय अंके रावणम् जनक आत्मजाम् । गच्छंतम् खड्ग शेषम् च प्रणष्ट हत साधनम् ॥ 51.22 ॥

tam prahṛṣṭam nidhāya aṃke rāvaṇam janaka ātmajām | gacchaṃtam khaḍga śeṣam ca praṇaṣṭa hata sādhanam || 51.22 ||

As Ravana went off gladly, holding Janaka's daughter on his hip, with nothing left of his weapons but a sword, all his other means of attack destroyed—

Shloka 23 (aranya.51.23)

गृध्र राजः समुत्पत्य रावणम् समभिद्रवत् । समावार्यम् महातेजा जटायुः इदम् अब्रवीत् ॥ 51.23 ॥

gṛdhra rājaḥ samutpatya rāvaṇam samabhidravat | samāvāryam mahātejā jaṭāyuḥ idam abravīt || 51.23 ||

—the king of eagles rose up swiftly and rushed at Ravana, and the mighty Jatayu, blocking his way, spoke these words to him:

Shloka 24 (aranya.51.24)

वर्ज संस्पर्श बाणस्य भार्याम् रामस्य रावण । अल्प बुद्धे हरसि एनाम् वधाय खलु रक्षसाम् ॥ 51.24 ॥

varja saṃsparśa bāṇasya bhāryām rāmasya rāvaṇa | alpa buddhe harasi enām vadhāya khalu rakṣasām || 51.24 ||

'Ravana, you feeble-minded fool, you are abducting the wife of Rama, whose arrows strike like the thunderbolt—you are surely bringing about the destruction of the demon race.'

Shloka 25 (aranya.51.25)

स मित्र बन्धुः स अमात्यः स बलः स परिच्छदः । विष पानम् पिबसि एतत् पिपासित इव उदकम् ॥ 51.25 ॥

sa mitra bandhuḥ sa amātyaḥ sa balaḥ sa paricchadaḥ | viṣa pānam pibasi etat pipāsita iva udakam || 51.25 ||

'Along with your friends, kinsmen, ministers, armies, and retinue, you are drinking this poison as eagerly as a thirsty man drinks water.'

Shloka 26 (aranya.51.26)

अनुबंधम् अजानंतः कर्मणाम् अविचक्षणाः । शीघ्रम् एव विनश्यन्ति यथा त्वम् विनशिष्यसि ॥ 51.26 ॥

anubaṃdham ajānaṃtaḥ karmaṇām avicakṣaṇāḥ | śīghram eva vinaśyanti yathā tvam vinaśiṣyasi || 51.26 ||

'Those who act without foresight, unaware of the consequences of their deeds, are swiftly destroyed—just as you will be destroyed.'

Shloka 27 (aranya.51.27)

बद्धः त्वम् काल पाशेन क्व गतः तस्य मोक्ष्यसे । वधाय बडिशम् गृह्य स अमिषम् जलजो यथा ॥ 51.27 ॥

baddhaḥ tvam kāla pāśena kva gataḥ tasya mokṣyase | vadhāya baḍiśam gṛhya sa amiṣam jalajo yathā || 51.27 ||

'You are bound by the noose of Death—wherever you go, how will you free yourself from it? You are like a fish that has swallowed the baited hook, doomed to die.'

Shloka 28 (aranya.51.28)

न हि जातु दुराधर्षौ काकुत्स्थौ तव रावण । धर्षणम् च आश्रमस्य अस्य क्षमिष्येते तु राघवौ ॥ 51.28 ॥

na hi jātu durādharṣau kākutsthau tava rāvaṇa | dharṣaṇam ca āśramasya asya kṣamiṣyete tu rāghavau || 51.28 ||

'Those two invincible sons of Kakutstha, O Ravana, will never forgive you for this outrage against their hermitage.'

Shloka 29 (aranya.51.29)

यथा त्वया कृतम् कर्म भीरुणा लोक गर्हितम् । तस्कर आचरितो मार्गो न एष वीर निषेवितः ॥ 51.29 ॥

yathā tvayā kṛtam karma bhīruṇā loka garhitam | taskara ācarito mārgo na eṣa vīra niṣevitaḥ || 51.29 ||

'What you, a coward, have done is an act condemned by the whole world—this is the path a thief walks, not one a hero follows.'

Shloka 30 (aranya.51.30)

युध्यस्व यदि शूरो असि मुहूर्तम् तिष्ठ रावण । शयिष्यसे हतो भूमौ यथा भ्राता खरः तथा ॥ 51.30 ॥

yudhyasva yadi śūro asi muhūrtam tiṣṭha rāvaṇa | śayiṣyase hato bhūmau yathā bhrātā kharaḥ tathā || 51.30 ||

'If you are truly brave, then fight—wait but a moment, Ravana. You will lie slain upon the earth, just as your brother Khara did.'

Shloka 31 (aranya.51.31)

परेत काले पुरुषो यत् कर्म प्रतिपद्यते । विनाशाय आत्मनो अधर्म्यम् प्रतिपन्नो असि कर्म तत् ॥ 51.31 ॥

pareta kāle puruṣo yat karma pratipadyate | vināśāya ātmano adharmyam pratipanno asi karma tat || 51.31 ||

'When a man's death draws near, he undertakes deeds that ruin him—and this unrighteous deed you have taken up is exactly such an act.'

Shloka 32 (aranya.51.32)

पाप अनुबंधो वै यस्य कर्मणः को नु तत् पुमान् । कुर्वीत लोक अधिपतिः स्वयंभूः भगवान् अपि ॥ 51.32 ॥

pāpa anubaṃdho vai yasya karmaṇaḥ ko nu tat pumān | kurvīta loka adhipatiḥ svayaṃbhūḥ bhagavān api || 51.32 ||

'What man—even were he the self-born Lord of all the worlds—would undertake a deed whose consequence is sin?' Thus did Jatayu counsel Ravana.

Shloka 33 (aranya.51.33)

एवम् उक्त्वा शुभम् वाक्यम् जटायुः तस्य रक्षसः । निपपात भृशम् पृष्ठे दशग्रीवस्य वीर्यवान् ॥ 51.33 ॥

evam uktvā śubham vākyam jaṭāyuḥ tasya rakṣasaḥ | nipapāta bhṛśam pṛṣṭhe daśagrīvasya vīryavān || 51.33 ||

Having spoken these wholesome words, the valorous Jatayu then swooped down fiercely onto the back of that demon Ravana.

Shloka 34 (aranya.51.34)

तम् गृहीत्वा नखैः तीक्ष्णैः विददार समंततः । अधिरूढो गज आरोहो यथा स्यात् दुष्ट वारणम् ॥ 51.34 ॥

tam gṛhītvā nakhaiḥ tīkṣṇaiḥ vidadāra samaṃtataḥ | adhirūḍho gaja āroho yathā syāt duṣṭa vāraṇam || 51.34 ||

Seizing him, Jatayu tore at him all over with his sharp claws, as a mahout mounted on a rampaging elephant strives to bring it under control.

Shloka 35 (aranya.51.35)

विददार नखैः अस्य तुण्डम् पृष्ठे समर्पयन् । केशान् च उत्पाटयामास नख पक्ष मुख आयुधः ॥ 51.35 ॥

vidadāra nakhaiḥ asya tuṇḍam pṛṣṭhe samarpayan | keśān ca utpāṭayāmāsa nakha pakṣa mukha āyudhaḥ || 51.35 ||

Armed with nothing but claws, wings, and beak, Jatayu drove his beak into Ravana's back and tore it with his claws, and even began to pluck out his hair.

Shloka 36 (aranya.51.36)

स तथा गृध्र राजेन क्लिश्यमानो मुहुर् मुहुः । अमर्ष स्फुरित ओष्ठः सन् प्राकंपत स राक्षसः ॥ 51.36 ॥

sa tathā gṛdhra rājena kliśyamāno muhur muhuḥ | amarṣa sphurita oṣṭhaḥ san prākaṃpata sa rākṣasaḥ || 51.36 ||

Tormented again and again by the king of eagles in this way, that demon's lips quivered with rage and his whole body shook.

Shloka 37 (aranya.51.37)

संपरिष्वज्य वैदेहीम् वामेन अंकेन रावणः । तलेन अभिजघान आर्तो जटायुम् क्रोध मूर्चितः ॥ 51.37 ॥

saṃpariṣvajya vaidehīm vāmena aṃkena rāvaṇaḥ | talena abhijaghāna ārto jaṭāyum krodha mūrcitaḥ || 51.37 ||

Clutching Vaidehi tightly to his left side, the anguished Ravana, beside himself with fury, struck Jatayu with the flat of his hand.

Shloka 38 (aranya.51.38)

जटायुः तम् अतिक्रम्य तुण्डेन अस्य खग अधिपः । वाम बाहून् दश तदा व्यपाहरत् अरिन्दमः ॥ 51.38 ॥

jaṭāyuḥ tam atikramya tuṇḍena asya khaga adhipaḥ | vāma bāhūn daśa tadā vyapāharat arindamaḥ || 51.38 ||

But Jatayu, that vanquisher of foes and lord of birds, evaded him and with his beak tore off all ten of Ravana's left arms.

Shloka 39 (aranya.51.39)

संच्छिन्न बाहोः सद्यो वै बाहवः सहसा अभवन् । विष ज्वालावली युक्ता वल्मीकत् इव पन्नगाः ॥ 51.39 ॥

saṃcchinna bāhoḥ sadyo vai bāhavaḥ sahasā abhavan | viṣa jvālāvalī yuktā valmīkat iva pannagāḥ || 51.39 ||

But the moment his arms were severed, new arms sprang up in their place at once, like serpents with venomous flames darting out of an anthill.

Shloka 40 (aranya.51.40)

ततः क्रोद्धात् दशग्रीवः सीताम् उत्सृज्य वीर्यवान् । मुष्टिभ्याम् चरणाभ्याम् च गृध्र राजम् अपोथयत् ॥ 51.40 ॥

tataḥ kroddhāt daśagrīvaḥ sītām utsṛjya vīryavān | muṣṭibhyām caraṇābhyām ca gṛdhra rājam apothayat || 51.40 ||

Then the mighty Ravana, in his fury, let go of Sita for a moment and set upon the king of eagles with fists and feet.

Shloka 41 (aranya.51.41)

ततो मुहूर्तम् संग्रामो बभूव अतुल वीर्ययोः । राक्षसानाम् च मुख्यस्य पक्षिणाम् प्रवरस्य च ॥ 51.41 ॥

tato muhūrtam saṃgrāmo babhūva atula vīryayoḥ | rākṣasānām ca mukhyasya pakṣiṇām pravarasya ca || 51.41 ||

Then for a while a fierce battle raged between those two of matchless might—the foremost of demons and the noblest of birds.

Shloka 42 (aranya.51.42)

तस्य व्यायच्छमानस्य रामस्य अर्थे अथ रावणः । पक्षौ पादौ च पार्श्वौ च खड्गम् उद्धृत्य सो अच्छिनत् ॥ 51.42 ॥

tasya vyāyacchamānasya rāmasya arthe atha rāvaṇaḥ | pakṣau pādau ca pārśvau ca khaḍgam uddhṛtya so acchinat || 51.42 ||

As Jatayu strove on, fighting for Rama's sake, Ravana drew his sword and hacked off his wings, his feet, and his flanks.

Shloka 43 (aranya.51.43)

स छिन्न पक्षः सहसा रक्षसा रौद्र कर्मणा । निपपात महा गृध्रो धरण्याम् अल्प जीवितः ॥ 51.43 ॥

sa chinna pakṣaḥ sahasā rakṣasā raudra karmaṇā | nipapāta mahā gṛdhro dharaṇyām alpa jīvitaḥ || 51.43 ||

His wings shorn off by that demon of dreadful deeds, the great eagle, his life ebbing away, fell suddenly to the earth.

Shloka 44 (aranya.51.44)

तम् दृष्ट्वा पतितम् भूमौ क्षतज आर्द्रम् जटायुषम् । अभ्यधावत वैदेही स्व बंधुम् इव दुःखिता ॥ 51.44 ॥

tam dṛṣṭvā patitam bhūmau kṣataja ārdram jaṭāyuṣam | abhyadhāvata vaidehī sva baṃdhum iva duḥkhitā || 51.44 ||

Seeing Jatayu fallen to the ground, drenched in blood, the grieving Vaidehi ran toward him as though he were her own kinsman.

Shloka 45 (aranya.51.45)

तम् नील जीमूत निकाश कल्पम् सुपाण्डुर उरस्कम् उदार वीर्यम् । ददर्श लंका अधिपतिः पृथिव्याम् जटायुषम् शान्तम् इव अग्नि दावम् ॥ 51.45 ॥

tam nīla jīmūta nikāśa kalpam supāṇḍura uraskam udāra vīryam | dadarśa laṃkā adhipatiḥ pṛthivyām jaṭāyuṣam śāntam iva agni dāvam || 51.45 ||

The lord of Lanka looked upon that noble-hearted Jatayu lying on the earth—dark as a rain-cloud, white-breasted, now still and spent like a forest fire burnt out.

Shloka 46 (aranya.51.46)

ततः तु तम् पत्ररथम् मही तले निपातितम् रावण वेग मर्दितम् । पुनः च संगृह्य शशि प्रभ आनना रुरोद सीता जनक आत्मजा तदा ॥ 51.46 ॥

tataḥ tu tam patraratham mahī tale nipātitam rāvaṇa vega marditam | punaḥ ca saṃgṛhya śaśi prabha ānanā ruroda sītā janaka ātmajā tadā || 51.46 ||

Then Sita, the daughter of Janaka, whose face shone like the moon, gathered up that bird felled by Ravana's onslaught and lying on the ground, and wept over him once more.