Sampati Reveals Sita's Whereabouts

Shloka 1 (kishkindha.58.1)

इत्युक्तः करुणं वाक्यं वानरैस्त्यक्तजीवितैः। सबाष्पो वानरान् गृध्रः प्रत्युवाच महास्वनः ॥ 58.1 ॥

ityuktaḥ karuṇaṃ vākyaṃ vānaraistyaktajīvitaiḥ| sabāṣpo vānarān gṛdhraḥ pratyuvāca mahāsvanaḥ || 58.1 ||

Thus addressed with such piteous words by the monkeys ready to give up their lives, that thunderous-voiced vulture, his eyes filled with tears, replied to them:

Shloka 2 (kishkindha.58.2)

यवीयान् स मम भ्राता जटायुर्नाम वानराः। यमाख्यात हतं युद्धे रावणेन बलीयसा ॥ 58.2 ॥

yavīyān sa mama bhrātā jaṭāyurnāma vānarāḥ| yamākhyāta hataṃ yuddhe rāvaṇena balīyasā || 58.2 ||

"O vanaras, he of whom it is said that he was slain in battle by the mighty Ravana — that one, named Jatayu, is my younger brother.

Shloka 3 (kishkindha.58.3)

वृद्धभावादपक्षत्वाच्छृण्वंस्तदपि मर्षये। नहि मे शक्तिरस्त्यद्य भ्रातुर्वैरविमोक्षणे ॥ 58.3 ॥

vṛddhabhāvādapakṣatvācchṛṇvaṃstadapi marṣaye| nahi me śaktirastyadya bhrāturvairavimokṣaṇe || 58.3 ||

Even hearing this, because of my old age and wingless state, I must resign myself to bear it; today I have no power left to avenge my brother's death.

Shloka 4 (kishkindha.58.4)

पुरा वृत्रवधे वृत्ते स चाहं च जयैषिणौ। आदित्यमुपयातौ स्वो ज्वलन्तं रश्मिमालिनम् ॥ 58.4 ॥

purā vṛtravadhe vṛtte sa cāhaṃ ca jayaiṣiṇau| ādityamupayātau svo jvalantaṃ raśmimālinam || 58.4 ||

Long ago, at the time Vritra was slain, we two brothers, each striving to outdo the other, flew close to the blazing, ray-garlanded sun.

Shloka 5 (kishkindha.58.5)

आवृत्याकाशमार्गेण जवेन स्वर्गतौ भृशम्। मध्यं प्राप्ते तु सूर्ये तु जटायुरवसीदति ॥ 58.5 ॥

āvṛtyākāśamārgeṇa javena svargatau bhṛśam| madhyaṃ prāpte tu sūrye tu jaṭāyuravasīdati || 58.5 ||

Covering the pathways of the sky, we sped upward with great speed toward the heavens; but when the sun reached its zenith, Jatayu began to falter.

Shloka 6 (kishkindha.58.6)

तमहं भ्रातरं दृष्ट्वा सूर्यरश्मिभिरर्दितम्। पक्षाभ्यां छादयामास स्नेहात् परमविह्वलम् ॥ 58.6 ॥

tamahaṃ bhrātaraṃ dṛṣṭvā sūryaraśmibhirarditam| pakṣābhyāṃ chādayāmāsa snehāt paramavihvalam || 58.6 ||

Seeing my brother thus tormented by the sun's rays and utterly distressed, I, out of brotherly love, covered him with both my wings.

Shloka 7 (kishkindha.58.7)

निर्दग्धपत्रः पतितो विन्ध्येऽहं वानरर्षभाः। अहमस्मिन् वसन् भ्रातुः प्रवृत्तिं नोपलक्षये ॥ 58.7 ॥

nirdagdhapatraḥ patito vindhye'haṃ vānararṣabhāḥ| ahamasmin vasan bhrātuḥ pravṛttiṃ nopalakṣaye || 58.7 ||

O best of vanaras, my wings were utterly scorched and I fell here upon the Vindhya; and dwelling here ever since, I could learn nothing of my brother's fate.

Shloka 8 (kishkindha.58.8)

जटायुषस्त्वेवमुक्तो भ्रात्रा सम्पातिना तदा। युवराजो महाप्रज्ञः प्रत्युवाचाङ्गदस्तदा ॥ 58.8 ॥

jaṭāyuṣastvevamukto bhrātrā sampātinā tadā| yuvarājo mahāprajñaḥ pratyuvācāṅgadastadā || 58.8 ||

When Jatayu's brother Sampati had spoken thus, the highly wise crown prince Angada replied to him:

Shloka 9 (kishkindha.58.9)

जटायुषो यदि भ्राता श्रुतं ते गदितं मया। आख्याहि यदि जानासि निलयं तस्य रक्षसः ॥ 58.9 ॥

jaṭāyuṣo yadi bhrātā śrutaṃ te gaditaṃ mayā| ākhyāhi yadi jānāsi nilayaṃ tasya rakṣasaḥ || 58.9 ||

"If you are indeed the brother of Jatayu, and if you have heard what I have said, then, if you know it, tell us the abode of that rakshasa —

Shloka 10 (kishkindha.58.10)

अदीर्घदर्शिनं तं वै रावणं राक्षसाधमम्। अन्तिके यदि वा दूरे यदि जानासि शंस नः ॥ 58.10 ॥

adīrghadarśinaṃ taṃ vai rāvaṇaṃ rākṣasādhamam| antike yadi vā dūre yadi jānāsi śaṃsa naḥ || 58.10 ||

of that shortsighted, vile rakshasa Ravana — whether his place be near or far, tell us if you know.

Shloka 11 (kishkindha.58.11)

ततोऽब्रवीन्महातेजा भ्राता ज्येष्ठो जटायुषः। आत्मानुरूपं वचनं वानरान् सम्प्रहर्षयन् ॥ 58.11 ॥

tato'bravīnmahātejā bhrātā jyeṣṭho jaṭāyuṣaḥ| ātmānurūpaṃ vacanaṃ vānarān sampraharṣayan || 58.11 ||

Then Jatayu's great-radiant elder brother spoke words befitting himself, words that filled the vanaras with joy —

Shloka 12 (kishkindha.58.12)

निर्दग्धपक्षो गृध्रोऽहं गतवीर्यः प्लवङ्गमाः। वाङ्मात्रेण तु रामस्य करिष्ये साह्यमुत्तमम् ॥ 58.12 ॥

nirdagdhapakṣo gṛdhro'haṃ gatavīryaḥ plavaṅgamāḥ| vāṅmātreṇa tu rāmasya kariṣye sāhyamuttamam || 58.12 ||

"O leaping vanaras, I am a vulture with burnt wings and vanished strength, yet by words alone I shall render Rama the finest service I can.

Shloka 13 (kishkindha.58.13)

जानामि वारुणाँल्लोकान् विष्णोस्त्रैविक्रमानपि। देवासुरविमर्दांश्च ह्यमृतस्य विमन्थनम् ॥ 58.13 ॥

jānāmi vāruṇā~llokān viṣṇostraivikramānapi| devāsuravimardāṃśca hyamṛtasya vimanthanam || 58.13 ||

I have seen the realms of Varuna, and even the three strides of Vishnu; I have witnessed the fearsome combat of gods and demons, and the churning of the nectar of immortality.

Shloka 14 (kishkindha.58.14)

रामस्य यदिदं कार्यं कर्तव्यं प्रथमं मया। जरया च हृतं तेजः प्राणाश्च शिथिला मम ॥ 58.14 ॥

rāmasya yadidaṃ kāryaṃ kartavyaṃ prathamaṃ mayā| jarayā ca hṛtaṃ tejaḥ prāṇāśca śithilā mama || 58.14 ||

This task of Rama's is one I ought to have undertaken first of all; but old age has stolen my vigour, and my very life-breath has grown feeble.

Shloka 15 (kishkindha.58.15)

तरुणी रूपसम्पन्ना सर्वाभरणभूषिता। ह्रियमाणा मया दृष्टा रावणेन दुरात्मना ॥ 58.15 ॥

taruṇī rūpasampannā sarvābharaṇabhūṣitā| hriyamāṇā mayā dṛṣṭā rāvaṇena durātmanā || 58.15 ||

I saw a young woman, lovely in form and adorned with every ornament, being carried off by the evil-hearted Ravana —

Shloka 16 (kishkindha.58.16)

क्रोशन्ती रामरामेति लक्ष्मणेति च भामिनी। भूषणान्यपविध्यन्ती गात्राणि च विधुन्वती ॥ 58.16 ॥

krośantī rāmarāmeti lakṣmaṇeti ca bhāminī| bhūṣaṇānyapavidhyantī gātrāṇi ca vidhunvatī || 58.16 ||

that furious woman, crying out 'Rama! Rama!' and 'Lakshmana!', flinging down her ornaments and thrashing her limbs in struggle.

Shloka 17 (kishkindha.58.17)

सूर्यप्रभेव शैलाग्रे तस्याः कौशेयमुत्तमम्। असिते राक्षसे भाति यथा वा तडिदम्बुदे ॥ 58.17 ॥

sūryaprabheva śailāgre tasyāḥ kauśeyamuttamam| asite rākṣase bhāti yathā vā taḍidambude || 58.17 ||

Upon the dark rakshasa, her fine silken garment shone like sunlight atop a dark mountain-peak, or like lightning within a dark rain-cloud.

Shloka 18 (kishkindha.58.18)

तां तु सीतामहं मन्ये रामस्य परिकीर्तनात्। श्रूयतां मे कथयतो निलयं तस्य रक्षसः ॥ 58.18 ॥

tāṃ tu sītāmahaṃ manye rāmasya parikīrtanāt| śrūyatāṃ me kathayato nilayaṃ tasya rakṣasaḥ || 58.18 ||

By her repeated calling out to Rama, I take her to be none other than Sita; now hear from me a description of that rakshasa's abode.

Shloka 19 (kishkindha.58.19)

पुत्रो विश्रवसः साक्षाद् भ्राता वैश्रवणस्य च। अध्यास्ते नगरीं लङ्कां रावणो नाम राक्षसः ॥ 58.19 ॥

putro viśravasaḥ sākṣād bhrātā vaiśravaṇasya ca| adhyāste nagarīṃ laṅkāṃ rāvaṇo nāma rākṣasaḥ || 58.19 ||

Ravana, the demon — literally the son of Vishrava and brother of Vaishravana — presides over the city of Lanka.

Shloka 20 (kishkindha.58.20)

इतो द्वीपे समुद्रस्य सम्पूर्णे शतयोजने। तस्मिँल्लङ्का पुरी रम्या निर्मिता विश्वकर्मणा ॥ 58.20 ॥

ito dvīpe samudrasya sampūrṇe śatayojane| tasmi~llaṅkā purī ramyā nirmitā viśvakarmaṇā || 58.20 ||

A full hundred yojanas from here, in the midst of the ocean, lies an island; upon it stands the lovely city of Lanka, built by Vishvakarma.

Shloka 21 (kishkindha.58.21)

जाम्बूनदमयैर्द्वारैश्चित्रैः काञ्चनवेदिकैः। प्रासादैर्हेमवर्णैश्च महद्भिः सुसमाकृता ॥ 58.21 ॥

jāmbūnadamayairdvāraiścitraiḥ kāñcanavedikaiḥ| prāsādairhemavarṇaiśca mahadbhiḥ susamākṛtā || 58.21 ||

It is exquisitely built with wondrous golden gateways, golden dais-platforms, and vast, gold-hued mansions,

Shloka 22 (kishkindha.58.22)

प्राकारेणार्कवर्णेन महता च समन्विता। तस्यां वसति वैदेही दीना कौशेयवासिनी ॥ 58.22 ॥

prākāreṇārkavarṇena mahatā ca samanvitā| tasyāṃ vasati vaidehī dīnā kauśeyavāsinī || 58.22 ||

and enclosed by a mighty rampart the colour of the sun; and there, wretched and clad in silk, dwells Vaidehi,

Shloka 23 (kishkindha.58.23)

रावणान्तःपुरे रुद्धा राक्षसीभिः सुरक्षिता। जनकस्यात्मजां राज्ञस्तस्यां द्रक्ष्यथ मैथिलीम् ॥ 58.23 ॥

rāvaṇāntaḥpure ruddhā rākṣasībhiḥ surakṣitā| janakasyātmajāṃ rājñastasyāṃ drakṣyatha maithilīm || 58.23 ||

confined within Ravana's inner apartments and closely guarded by rakshasa-women; there you shall behold Maithili, daughter of King Janaka.

Shloka 24 (kishkindha.58.24)

लङ्कायामथ गुप्तायां सागरेण समन्ततः। सम्प्राप्य सागरस्यान्तं सम्पूर्णं शतयोजनम् ॥ 58.24 ॥

laṅkāyāmatha guptāyāṃ sāgareṇa samantataḥ| samprāpya sāgarasyāntaṃ sampūrṇaṃ śatayojanam || 58.24 ||

Having crossed to the very end of that ocean — spanning a full hundred yojanas all around — which shields that Lanka —

Shloka 25 (kishkindha.58.25)

आसाद्य दक्षिणं तीरं ततो द्रक्ष्यथ रावणम्। तत्रैव त्वरिताः क्षिप्रं विक्रमध्वं प्लवङ्गमाः ॥ 58.25 ॥

āsādya dakṣiṇaṃ tīraṃ tato drakṣyatha rāvaṇam| tatraiva tvaritāḥ kṣipraṃ vikramadhvaṃ plavaṅgamāḥ || 58.25 ||

and reaching its southern shore, there you shall see Ravana; so, O leaping vanaras, hasten and there display your valour without delay.

Shloka 26 (kishkindha.58.26)

ज्ञानेन खलु पश्यामि दृष्ट्वा प्रत्यागमिष्यथ। आद्यः पन्थाः कुलिङ्गानां ये चान्ये धान्यजीविनः ॥ 58.26 ॥

jñānena khalu paśyāmi dṛṣṭvā pratyāgamiṣyatha| ādyaḥ panthāḥ kuliṅgānāṃ ye cānye dhānyajīvinaḥ || 58.26 ||

By my inner knowledge I can indeed foresee that you will see her and return safely. The first level of flight belongs to sparrows and other grain-eating birds;

Shloka 27 (kishkindha.58.27)

द्वितीयो बलिभोजानां ये च वृक्षफलाशनाः। भासास्तृतीयं गच्छन्ति क्रौञ्चाश्च कुररैः सह ॥ 58.27 ॥

dvitīyo balibhojānāṃ ye ca vṛkṣaphalāśanāḥ| bhāsāstṛtīyaṃ gacchanti krauñcāśca kuraraiḥ saha || 58.27 ||

the second belongs to those who feed on leavings, and to those who eat tree-fruit; bhasa-birds fly the third path, together with kraunchas and kuraras,

Shloka 28 (kishkindha.58.28)

श्येनाश्चतुर्थं गच्छन्ति गृध्रा गच्छन्ति पञ्चमम्। बलवीर्योपपन्नानां रूपयौवनशालिनाम् ॥ 58.28 ॥

śyenāścaturthaṃ gacchanti gṛdhrā gacchanti pañcamam| balavīryopapannānāṃ rūpayauvanaśālinām || 58.28 ||

hawks travel the fourth path, and vultures — richly endowed with strength, valour, beauty and vigour — the fifth.

Shloka 29 (kishkindha.58.29)

षष्ठस्तु पन्था हंसानां वैनतेयगतिः परा। वैनतेयाच्च नो जन्म सर्वेषां वानरर्षभाः ॥ 58.29 ॥

ṣaṣṭhastu panthā haṃsānāṃ vainateyagatiḥ parā| vainateyācca no janma sarveṣāṃ vānararṣabhāḥ || 58.29 ||

The sixth path belongs to the swans, while the course of Vainateya, Garuda, is the highest of all; and, O best of vanaras, all of us too are born of that same lineage of Vainateya.

Shloka 30 (kishkindha.58.30)

गर्हितं तु कृतं कर्म येन स्म पिशिताशिनः। प्रतिकार्यं च मे तस्य वैरं भ्रातृकृतं भवेत् ॥ 58.30 ॥

garhitaṃ tu kṛtaṃ karma yena sma piśitāśinaḥ| pratikāryaṃ ca me tasya vairaṃ bhrātṛkṛtaṃ bhavet || 58.30 ||

This deplorable deed was done by that flesh-eater — let it be avenged; thereby his enmity, wrought against my own brother, shall also be requited on my behalf.

Shloka 31 (kishkindha.58.31)

इहस्थोऽहं प्रपश्यामि रावणं जानकीं तथा। अस्माकमपि सौपर्णं दिव्यं चक्षुर्बलं तथा ॥ 58.31 ॥

ihastho'haṃ prapaśyāmi rāvaṇaṃ jānakīṃ tathā| asmākamapi sauparṇaṃ divyaṃ cakṣurbalaṃ tathā || 58.31 ||

Sitting right here, I can clearly see Ravana as well as Janaki; for we too, born of Suparna's line, possess a like divine sight and power.

Shloka 32 (kishkindha.58.32)

तस्मादाहारवीर्येण निसर्गेण च वानराः। आयोजनशतात् साग्राद् वयं पश्याम नित्यशः ॥ 58.32 ॥

tasmādāhāravīryeṇa nisargeṇa ca vānarāḥ| āyojanaśatāt sāgrād vayaṃ paśyāma nityaśaḥ || 58.32 ||

Therefore, O vanaras, by the strength derived from our food and by our very nature, we can always see to a distance of more than a hundred yojanas.

Shloka 33 (kishkindha.58.33)

अस्माकं विहिता वृत्तिर्निसर्गेण च दूरतः। विहिता वृक्षमूले तु वृत्तिश्चरणयोधिनाम् ॥ 58.33 ॥

asmākaṃ vihitā vṛttirnisargeṇa ca dūrataḥ| vihitā vṛkṣamūle tu vṛttiścaraṇayodhinām || 58.33 ||

Our livelihood is, by nature, ordained to lie far away, whereas the livelihood of those that fight with their legs — the cocks — is ordained right at the foot of the tree.

Shloka 34 (kishkindha.58.34)

उपायो दृश्यतां कश्चिल्लङ्घने लवणाम्भसः। अभिगम्य तु वैदेहीं समृद्धार्था गमिष्यथ ॥ 58.34 ॥

upāyo dṛśyatāṃ kaścillaṅghane lavaṇāmbhasaḥ| abhigamya tu vaidehīṃ samṛddhārthā gamiṣyatha || 58.34 ||

So let some means be found to leap across the salt ocean; on reaching Vaidehi, you shall return with your purpose gloriously accomplished.

Shloka 35 (kishkindha.58.35)

समुद्रं नेतुमिच्छामि भवद्भिर्वरुणालयम्। प्रदास्याम्युदकं भ्रातुः स्वर्गतस्य महात्मनः ॥ 58.35 ॥

samudraṃ netumicchāmi bhavadbhirvaruṇālayam| pradāsyāmyudakaṃ bhrātuḥ svargatasya mahātmanaḥ || 58.35 ||

I wish that you would take me to the ocean, the abode of Varuna, so that I may offer the water-oblation to my noble brother who has departed to heaven." Thus spoke Sampati to the vanaras.

Shloka 36 (kishkindha.58.36)

ततो नीत्वा तु तं देशं तीरे नदनदीपतेः। निर्दग्धपक्षं सम्पातिं वानराः सुमहौजसः ॥ 58.36 ॥

tato nītvā tu taṃ deśaṃ tīre nadanadīpateḥ| nirdagdhapakṣaṃ sampātiṃ vānarāḥ sumahaujasaḥ || 58.36 ||

Then those vanaras of very great might carried Sampati, his wings burnt away, to the shore of the ocean, the lord of rivers and streams,

Shloka 37 (kishkindha.58.37)

तं पुनः प्रापयित्वा च तं देशं पतगेश्वरम्। बभूवुर्वानरा हृष्टाः प्रवृत्तिमुपलभ्य ते ॥ 58.37 ॥

taṃ punaḥ prāpayitvā ca taṃ deśaṃ patageśvaram| babhūvurvānarā hṛṣṭāḥ pravṛttimupalabhya te || 58.37 ||

and having brought that king of birds back once more to his own place, those vanaras, having gained news of Sita, were filled with great joy.