Jatayu's Passing

Shloka 1 (aranya.68.1)

रामः प्रेक्ष्य तु तम् गृध्रम् भुवि रौद्रेण पातितम् । सौमित्रिम् मित्र संपन्नम् इदम् वचनम् अब्रवीत् ॥ 68.1 ॥

rāmaḥ prekṣya tu tam gṛdhram bhuvi raudreṇa pātitam | saumitrim mitra saṃpannam idam vacanam abravīt || 68.1 ||

Seeing that vulture felled to the ground by the ferocious Ravana, Rama spoke these words to Saumitri, endowed with the qualities of a true friend.

Shloka 2 (aranya.68.2)

मम अयम् नूनम् अर्थेषु यतमानो विहंगमः । राक्षसेन हतः संख्ये प्राणान् त्यजति मत् कृते ॥ 68.2 ॥

mama ayam nūnam artheṣu yatamāno vihaṃgamaḥ | rākṣasena hataḥ saṃkhye prāṇān tyajati mat kṛte || 68.2 ||

"Surely this bird, striving in my cause, has been struck down by the demon in combat, and is now, because of me, giving up his life.

Shloka 3 (aranya.68.3)

अति खिन्नः शरीरे अस्मिन् प्राणो लक्ष्मण विद्यते । तथा स्वर विहीनो अयम् विक्लवम् समुदीक्षते ॥ 68.3 ॥

ati khinnaḥ śarīre asmin prāṇo lakṣmaṇa vidyate | tathā svara vihīno ayam viklavam samudīkṣate || 68.3 ||

His breath, O Lakshmana, remains only feebly in this body; his voice too has failed, and he gazes at us in utter distress."

Shloka 4 (aranya.68.4)

जटायो यदि शक्नोषि वाक्यम् व्याहरितुम् पुनः । सीताम् आख्याहि भद्रम् ते वधम् आख्याहि च आत्मनः ॥ 68.4 ॥

jaṭāyo yadi śaknoṣi vākyam vyāharitum punaḥ | sītām ākhyāhi bhadram te vadham ākhyāhi ca ātmanaḥ || 68.4 ||

"O Jatayu, if you are able to speak once more, tell me of Sita -- good fortune to you -- and tell me also how you came to be slain.

Shloka 5 (aranya.68.5)

किम् निमित्तो जहार आर्याम् रावणः तस्य किम् मया । अपराधम् तु यम् दृष्ट्वा रावणेन हृता प्रिया ॥ 68.5 ॥

kim nimitto jahāra āryām rāvaṇaḥ tasya kim mayā | aparādham tu yam dṛṣṭvā rāvaṇena hṛtā priyā || 68.5 ||

For what reason did Ravana carry off that noble lady? What wrong of mine did he perceive, that he should steal my beloved?

Shloka 6 (aranya.68.6)

कथम् तत् चन्द्र संकाशम् मुखम् आसीत् मनोहरम् । सीतया कानि च उक्तानि तस्मिन् काले द्विजोत्तम ॥ 68.6 ॥

katham tat candra saṃkāśam mukham āsīt manoharam | sītayā kāni ca uktāni tasmin kāle dvijottama || 68.6 ||

O best of birds, how did that moon-like, enchanting face of hers appear at that moment, and what words did Sita speak at that time?

Shloka 7 (aranya.68.7)

कथम् वीर्यः कथम् रूपः किम् कर्मा स च राक्षसः । क्व च अस्य भवनम् तात ब्रूहि मे परिपृच्छतः ॥ 68.7 ॥

katham vīryaḥ katham rūpaḥ kim karmā sa ca rākṣasaḥ | kva ca asya bhavanam tāta brūhi me paripṛcchataḥ || 68.7 ||

What is that demon's strength, what is his form, what are his deeds, and where is his dwelling, O father-figure? Tell me, for I ask you earnestly."

Shloka 8 (aranya.68.8)

तम् उद्वीक्ष्य सः धर्मात्मा विलपन्तम् अनाथवत् । वाचा विक्लवया रामम् इदम् वचनम् अब्रवीत् ॥ 68.8 ॥

tam udvīkṣya saḥ dharmātmā vilapantam anāthavat | vācā viklavayā rāmam idam vacanam abravīt || 68.8 ||

Looking up at Rama, who was lamenting like one bereft, that righteous Jatayu spoke these words to him in a faltering voice.

Shloka 9 (aranya.68.9)

सा हृता राक्षसेन्द्रेण रावणेन दुरात्मना । मायाम् आस्थाय विपुलाम् वात दुर्दिन संकुलाम् ॥ 68.9 ॥

sā hṛtā rākṣasendreṇa rāvaṇena durātmanā | māyām āsthāya vipulām vāta durdina saṃkulām || 68.9 ||

"She was carried off by the evil-minded Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, who resorted to a vast illusion that raised storm-winds and darkened the sky.

Shloka 10 (aranya.68.10)

परिक्लांतस्य मे तात पक्षौ चित्त्वा निशाचरः । सीताम् आदाय वैदेहीम् प्रयातो दक्षिणा मुखः ॥ 68.10 ॥

pariklāṃtasya me tāta pakṣau cittvā niśācaraḥ | sītām ādāya vaidehīm prayāto dakṣiṇā mukhaḥ || 68.10 ||

When I had grown exhausted, dear boy, that night-roamer hacked off both my wings and, taking Vaidehi Sita, departed toward the south.

Shloka 11 (aranya.68.11)

उपरुध्यन्ति मे प्राणा दृष्टिर् भ्रमति राघव । पश्यामि वृक्षान् सौवर्णान् उशीर कृत मूर्धजान् ॥ 68.11 ॥

uparudhyanti me prāṇā dṛṣṭir bhramati rāghava | paśyāmi vṛkṣān sauvarṇān uśīra kṛta mūrdhajān || 68.11 ||

My life-breaths are failing, O Raghava, my sight is reeling; I now see golden trees with cuscus-grass for their crowns.

Shloka 12 (aranya.68.12)

येन याति मुहूर्तेन सीताम् आदाय रावणः । विप्रनष्टम् धनम् क्षिप्रम् तत् स्वामि प्रतिपद्यते ॥ 68.12 ॥

yena yāti muhūrtena sītām ādāya rāvaṇaḥ | vipranaṣṭam dhanam kṣipram tat svāmi pratipadyate || 68.12 ||

The hour in which Ravana went off with Sita is one in which lost wealth is quickly regained by its rightful owner.

Shloka 13 (aranya.68.13)

विन्दो नाम मुहूर्तो असौ स च काकुत्स्थ न अबुधत् । त्वत् प्रियाम् जानकीम् हृत्वा रावणो राक्षसेश्वर । झषवत् बडिशम् गृह्य क्षिप्रम् एव विनश्यति ॥ 68.13 ॥

vindo nāma muhūrto asau sa ca kākutstha na abudhat | tvat priyām jānakīm hṛtvā rāvaṇo rākṣaseśvara | jhaṣavat baḍiśam gṛhya kṣipram eva vinaśyati || 68.13 ||

That hour is named Vinda, and, O Kakutstha, Ravana did not know this. Having stolen your beloved Janaki, that lord of rakshasas will soon perish, like a fish that has swallowed a baited hook.

Shloka 14 (aranya.68.14)

न च त्वया व्यथा कार्या जनकस्य सुताम् प्रति । वैदेह्या रंस्यसे क्षिप्रम् हत्वा तम् रणमूर्धनि ॥ 68.14 ॥

na ca tvayā vyathā kāryā janakasya sutām prati | vaidehyā raṃsyase kṣipram hatvā tam raṇamūrdhani || 68.14 ||

You need not grieve for the daughter of Janaka; you shall soon rejoice again with Vaidehi, once you have slain him at the forefront of battle."

Shloka 15 (aranya.68.15)

असंमूढस्य गृध्रस्य रामम् प्रति अनुभाषतः । आस्यात् सुस्राव रुधिरम् म्रियमाणस्य स अमिषम् ॥ 68.15 ॥

asaṃmūḍhasya gṛdhrasya rāmam prati anubhāṣataḥ | āsyāt susrāva rudhiram mriyamāṇasya sa amiṣam || 68.15 ||

Though the vulture, his mind still clear, went on speaking to Rama, blood mixed with shreds of flesh flowed freely from his mouth as he lay dying.

Shloka 16 (aranya.68.16)

पुत्रो विश्रवसः साक्षात् भ्राता वैश्रवणस्य च । इति उक्त्वा दुर्लभान् प्राणान् मुमोच पतगेश्वरः ॥ 68.16 ॥

putro viśravasaḥ sākṣāt bhrātā vaiśravaṇasya ca | iti uktvā durlabhān prāṇān mumoca patageśvaraḥ || 68.16 ||

"He is verily the son of Vishrava, and the very brother of Vaishravana" -- saying this much, that lord of birds gave up his hard-won life.

Shloka 17 (aranya.68.17)

ब्रूहि ब्रूहि इति रामस्य ब्रुवाणस्य कृतांजलेः । त्यक्त्वा शरीरम् गृध्रस्य जग्मुः प्राणा विहायसम् ॥ 68.17 ॥

brūhi brūhi iti rāmasya bruvāṇasya kṛtāṃjaleḥ | tyaktvā śarīram gṛdhrasya jagmuḥ prāṇā vihāyasam || 68.17 ||

Even as Rama, with joined palms, kept saying, "Speak on, speak on," the vulture's life-breaths left his body and rose into the sky.

Shloka 18 (aranya.68.18)

स निक्षिप्य शिरो भूमौ प्रसार्य चरणौ तदा । विक्षिप्य च शरीरम् स्वम् पपात धरणी तले ॥ 68.18 ॥

sa nikṣipya śiro bhūmau prasārya caraṇau tadā | vikṣipya ca śarīram svam papāta dharaṇī tale || 68.18 ||

Then, dropping his head to the ground and stretching out his legs, his body convulsed, and he collapsed upon the surface of the earth.

Shloka 19 (aranya.68.19)

तम् गृध्रम् प्रेक्ष्य ताम्र अक्षम् गत असुम् अचलोपमम् । रामः सु बहुभिः दुह्खैः दीनः सौमित्रिम् अब्रवीत् ॥ 68.19 ॥

tam gṛdhram prekṣya tāmra akṣam gata asum acalopamam | rāmaḥ su bahubhiḥ duhkhaiḥ dīnaḥ saumitrim abravīt || 68.19 ||

Seeing that vulture, his eyes reddened, his life gone, lying like a fallen mountain, Rama, wretched with manifold sorrows, said to Saumitri:

Shloka 20 (aranya.68.20)

बहूनि रक्षसाम् वासे वर्षाणि वसता सुखम् । अनेन दण्डकारण्ये विशीर्णम् इह पक्षिणा ॥ 68.20 ॥

bahūni rakṣasām vāse varṣāṇi vasatā sukham | anena daṇḍakāraṇye viśīrṇam iha pakṣiṇā || 68.20 ||

"This bird, who for many years lived happily and fearlessly in Dandaka forest, that dwelling-place of rakshasas, has here perished --

Shloka 21 (aranya.68.21)

अनेक वार्षिको यः तु चिर काल समुत्थितः । सो अयम् अद्य हतः शेते कालो हि दुर्अतिक्रमः ॥ 68.21 ॥

aneka vārṣiko yaḥ tu cira kāla samutthitaḥ | so ayam adya hataḥ śete kālo hi duratikramaḥ || 68.21 ||

-- he who had lived for many years, who had long endured, lies slain today. Time indeed is impossible to transgress.

Shloka 22 (aranya.68.22)

पश्य लक्ष्मण गृध्रो अयम् उपकारी हतः च मे । सीताम् अभ्यवपन्नो हि रावणेन बलीयसा ॥ 68.22 ॥

paśya lakṣmaṇa gṛdhro ayam upakārī hataḥ ca me | sītām abhyavapanno hi rāvaṇena balīyasā || 68.22 ||

See, Lakshmana, this vulture who did me a service has been slain, because he strove to rescue Sita from the mighty Ravana.

Shloka 23 (aranya.68.23)

गृध्र राज्यम् परित्यज्य पितृ पैतामहम् महत् । मम हेतोः अयम् प्राणान् मुमोच पतगेश्वरः ॥ 68.23 ॥

gṛdhra rājyam parityajya pitṛ paitāmaham mahat | mama hetoḥ ayam prāṇān mumoca patageśvaraḥ || 68.23 ||

Abandoning the great kingdom of vultures inherited from his father and forefathers, this lord of birds has given up his life for my sake.

Shloka 24 (aranya.68.24)

सर्वत्र खलु दृश्यन्ते साधवो धर्म चारिणः । शूराः शरण्याः सौमित्रे तिर्यक् योनि गतेषु अपि ॥ 68.24 ॥

sarvatra khalu dṛśyante sādhavo dharma cāriṇaḥ | śūrāḥ śaraṇyāḥ saumitre tiryak yoni gateṣu api || 68.24 ||

Everywhere indeed, O Saumitri, are seen the virtuous, the followers of dharma, the valiant, and those worthy of taking refuge in -- even among those born in animal wombs.

Shloka 25 (aranya.68.25)

सीता हरणजं दुःखम् न मे सौम्य तथा गतम् । यथा विनाशो गृध्रस्य मत् कृते च परंतप ॥ 68.25 ॥

sītā haraṇajaṃ duḥkham na me saumya tathā gatam | yathā vināśo gṛdhrasya mat kṛte ca paraṃtapa || 68.25 ||

O gentle one, O scorcher of foes, the grief born of Sita's abduction does not weigh on me as heavily as the destruction of this vulture, which came about because of me.

Shloka 26 (aranya.68.26)

राजा दशरथः श्रीमान् यथा मम मया यशाः । पूजनीयः च मान्यः च तथा अयम् पतगेश्वरः ॥ 68.26 ॥

rājā daśarathaḥ śrīmān yathā mama mayā yaśāḥ | pūjanīyaḥ ca mānyaḥ ca tathā ayam patageśvaraḥ || 68.26 ||

As the glorious and renowned King Dasharatha is worthy of my worship and honour, so too is this lord of birds worthy of my worship and honour.

Shloka 27 (aranya.68.27)

सौमित्रे हर काष्ठानि निर्मथिष्यामि पावकम् । गृध्र राजम् दिधक्षामि मत् कृते निधनम् गतम् ॥ 68.27 ॥

saumitre hara kāṣṭhāni nirmathiṣyāmi pāvakam | gṛdhra rājam didhakṣāmi mat kṛte nidhanam gatam || 68.27 ||

O Saumitri, bring firewood -- I shall kindle fire by friction; I wish to cremate this king of vultures who met his death because of me.

Shloka 28 (aranya.68.28)

नाथम् पतग लोकस्य चिताम् आरोपयामि अहम् । इमम् धक्ष्यामि सौमित्रे हतम् रौद्रेण रक्षसा ॥ 68.28 ॥

nātham pataga lokasya citām āropayāmi aham | imam dhakṣyāmi saumitre hatam raudreṇa rakṣasā || 68.28 ||

I myself shall lay upon the pyre this lord of the realm of birds; I shall cremate him, O Saumitri, who was slain by that ferocious demon."

Shloka 29 (aranya.68.29)

या गतिः यज्ञ शीलानाम् आहित अग्नेः च या गतिः । अ पर आवर्तिनाम् या च या च भूमि प्रदायिनाम् ॥ 68.29 ॥

yā gatiḥ yajña śīlānām āhita agneḥ ca yā gatiḥ | a para āvartinām yā ca yā ca bhūmi pradāyinām || 68.29 ||

"The realm reached by those devoted to sacrifice, the realm reached by those who tend the sacred fires, the realm of those who never retreat in battle, and the realm of those who give away land --

Shloka 30 (aranya.68.30)

मया त्वम् समनुज्ञातो गच्छ लोकान् अनुत्तमान् । गृध्र राज महा सत्त्व संस्कृतः च मया व्रज ॥ 68.30 ॥

mayā tvam samanujñāto gaccha lokān anuttamān | gṛdhra rāja mahā sattva saṃskṛtaḥ ca mayā vraja || 68.30 ||

-- to those very realms, O mighty king of vultures, sent forth and consecrated by me, may you go; depart to the unsurpassed worlds."

Shloka 31 (aranya.68.31)

एवम् उक्त्वा चिताम् दीप्ताम् आरोप्य पतगेश्वरम् । ददाह रामो धर्मात्मा स्व बन्धुम् इव दुःखितः ॥ 68.31 ॥

evam uktvā citām dīptām āropya patageśvaram | dadāha rāmo dharmātmā sva bandhum iva duḥkhitaḥ || 68.31 ||

Having said this, the righteous Rama, sorrowing as if for his own kinsman, laid that lord of birds upon the blazing pyre and cremated him.

Shloka 32 (aranya.68.32)

रामो अथ सह सौमित्रिः वनम् यात्वा स वीर्यवान् । स्थूलान् हत्वा महा रोहीन् अनु तस्तार तम् द्विजम् ॥ 68.32 ॥

rāmo atha saha saumitriḥ vanam yātvā sa vīryavān | sthūlān hatvā mahā rohīn anu tastāra tam dvijam || 68.32 ||

Then the valiant Rama, going into the forest with Saumitri, killed some large, sturdy rohi deer and spread sacred grass to make offerings for that bird.

Shloka 33 (aranya.68.33)

रोहि मांसानि च उद्धृत्य पेशी कृत्वा महायशाः । शकुनाय ददौ रामो रम्ये हरित शाद्वले ॥ 68.33 ॥

rohi māṃsāni ca uddhṛtya peśī kṛtvā mahāyaśāḥ | śakunāya dadau rāmo ramye harita śādvale || 68.33 ||

Drawing out the flesh of the rohi deer and forming it into lumps, the illustrious Rama offered it to the bird upon the pleasant, green meadow.

Shloka 34 (aranya.68.34)

यत् तत् प्रेतस्य मर्त्यस्य कथयन्ति द्विजातयः । तत् स्वर्ग गमनम् पित्र्यम् क्षिप्रम् रामो जजाप ह ॥ 68.34 ॥

yat tat pretasya martyasya kathayanti dvijātayaḥ | tat svarga gamanam pitryam kṣipram rāmo jajāpa ha || 68.34 ||

Rama then swiftly recited that same rite which the twice-born declare to be the ancestral hymn leading a departed mortal's soul to heaven.

Shloka 35 (aranya.68.35)

ततो गोदावरीम् गत्वा नदीम् नर वर आत्मजौ । उदकम् चक्रतुः तस्मै गृध्र राजाय तौ उभौ ॥ 68.35 ॥

tato godāvarīm gatvā nadīm nara vara ātmajau | udakam cakratuḥ tasmai gṛdhra rājāya tau ubhau || 68.35 ||

Then those two sons of the best of men, going to the river Godavari, both together offered the water-libation for that king of vultures.

Shloka 36 (aranya.68.36)

शास्त्र दृष्टेन विधिना जले गृधाय राघवौ । स्नात्वा तौ गृध्र राजाय उदकम् चक्रुः तदा ॥ 68.36 ॥

śāstra dṛṣṭena vidhinā jale gṛdhāya rāghavau | snātvā tau gṛdhra rājāya udakam cakruḥ tadā || 68.36 ||

Then both Raghavas, having bathed in the water according to the rite prescribed by scripture, offered the water-oblation to the king of vultures.

Shloka 37 (aranya.68.37)

स गृध्र राजः कृतवान् यशस्करम् सु दुष्करम् कर्म रणे निपातितः । महर्षि कल्पेन च संस्कृतः तदा जगाम पुण्याम् गतिम् आत्मनः शुभाम् ॥ 68.37 ॥

sa gṛdhra rājaḥ kṛtavān yaśaskaram su duṣkaram karma raṇe nipātitaḥ | maharṣi kalpena ca saṃskṛtaḥ tadā jagāma puṇyām gatim ātmanaḥ śubhām || 68.37 ||

That king of vultures, having performed the most arduous and glorious deed and having fallen in battle, was then consecrated by one equal to a great sage, and went to his own blessed and meritorious realm.

Shloka 38 (aranya.68.38)

कृतोदकौ तौ अपि पक्षि सत्तमे स्थिराम् च बुद्धिम् प्रणिधाय जग्मुतुः । प्रवेश्य सीता अधिगमने ततो मनो वनम् सुरेन्द्रौ इव विष्णु वासवौ ॥ 68.38 ॥

kṛtodakau tau api pakṣi sattame sthirām ca buddhim praṇidhāya jagmutuḥ | praveśya sītā adhigamane tato mano vanam surendrau iva viṣṇu vāsavau || 68.38 ||

Having performed the water-rites for that best of birds, and firmly resolving their minds, the two of them, their thoughts now bent wholly on finding Sita, went on into the forest, like Vishnu and Indra, the two lords of the gods.