Aranya Kanda, Sarga 69

Meaning

Perceiving the aforesaid vulture struck down on the earth by the fierce ogre, Rāvaṇa, Śrī Rāma for his part spoke as follows to Lakṣmaṇa (son of Sumitrā), who was richly endowed with a friendly spirit towards all : (1)

Meaning

“Mortally struck by the ogre in an encounter, while striving in my interests, this bird, Jaṭāyu, is surely giving up the ghost for my sake alone. (2)

Meaning

“Life in this body of Jaṭāyu, O Lakṣmaṇa, is very faint. And he is getting speechless by degrees as he is gazing on us wildly. (3)

Meaning

Turning towards Jaṭāyu, “Jaṭāyu, if you can utter a word again, speak something more about Sītā and also as to how you came to be killed. May all be well with you ! (4)

Meaning

“What for did Rāvaṇa bear away the noble lady and what offence was given to him by me, in consideration of which my darling was borne away by Rāvaṇa? (5)

Meaning

“How did that soul-captivating moon-like face appear and what words were uttered by Sītā at that moment, O jewel among birds? (6)

Meaning

“How powerful is that ogre, how does he look and what are his doings? Also where is his home, dear uncle? Answer me as I question you.” (7)

Meaning

Fondly perceiving Śrī Rāma lamenting like one without a protector, Jaṭāyu, whose mind was set on virtue, replied to him in faltering accents as follows : (8)

Meaning

“Falling back upon extensive conjuring tricks ushering a storm and cloudy weather, Sītā was borne away by the evil-minded Rāvaṇa, the ruler of ogres. (9)

Meaning

“Lopping off my wings, exhausted as I was, O dear one, and taking Sītā, a princess of the Videha territory, the night-stalker departed with his face towards the south. (10)

Meaning

“My senses are becoming dull and my vision is growing unsteady. I perceive the trees made of gold with hair resembling the Uśīra grass growing on their tops. (11)

Meaning

“The owner of a treasure, wantonly lost during the hour in which Rāvaṇa departed taking Sītā, is able to recover it speedily. (12)

Meaning

“It was an hour ‘Vinda’ by name. Rāvaṇa, however did not know it, O scion of Kakutstha ! Having borne away your beloved spouse, Sītā (daughter of Janaka), Rāvaṇa, the king of ogres, will perish very soon as a fish on swallowing a hook. (13)

Meaning

“Nor should anxiety be felt by you on the score of Janaka’s daughter; for, having killed him soon in the van of fight, you will feel happy with Sītā, a princess of the Videha territory.” (14)

Meaning

While the vulture, who remained undeluded even though dying, was replying to Śrī Rāma, blood with pieces of flesh flowed from his mouth. (15)

Meaning

“He (Rāvaṇa) is a son of Sage Viśravā himself and a half-brother of Kubera, the first-born son of Viśravā.” Saying so, Jaṭāyu, the king of birds, yielded up his life, which was difficult to retain. (16)

Meaning

In the presence of Śrī Rāma, who went on saying : “Speak, speak (further) !” with joined palms as a mark of respect to his father’s friend, the life-breath of the vulture rose to the skies leaving his body. (17)

Meaning

Dropping his head on the ground, nay, stretching his legs and throwing his bodyback, Jaṭāyu sank on the earth’s surface. (18)

Meaning

Gazing on the aforesaid vulture with coppery eyes, who looked like a mountain, his life having departed, Śrī Rāma, who was weighed down by numerous misfortunes, spoke as follows to Lakṣmaṇa, son of Sumitrā : (19)

Meaning

“His body has been shed here by this bird, who lived happily in the Daṇḍaka forest, the home of ogres, for many years. (20)

Meaning

“This vulture, for his part, who lived many years and thrived for a long period, is lying killed today. Indeed the Time-Spirit is difficult to overcome. (21)

Meaning

“Behold, O Lakṣmaṇa, how this vulture, who rendered good offices to me and rushed to the succour of Sītā, has actually been killed by Rāvaṇa of superior strength. (22)

Meaning

“Having renounced the mighty rulership of vultures, inherited by him from his forefathers, this king of birds has laid down his life for my sake ! (23)

Meaning

“Indeed pious and valiant souls practising virtue and worth approaching for protection are found everywhere—even amongst those belonging to the sub-human species, O Lakṣmaṇa (son of Sumitrā) ! (24)

Meaning

“Nay, agony caused by the abduction of Sītā does not pinch me so much, O gentle brother, as the death of this vulture and that too for my sake, O scorcher of foes ! (25)

Meaning

“This ruler of the feathered kingdom is worthy of adoration and honour too in the same way as the glorious and highly illustrious King Daśaratha, our own father. (26)

Meaning

“Fetch logs of wood, O darling of Sumitrā, so that I shall produce fire by attrition, as I intend to cremate the king of vultures, who has suffered death for my sake. (27)

Meaning

“I will place the lord of the feathered kingdom on a funeral pile and will then set fire to this bird killed by the fierce ogre, O darling of Sumitrā ! (28)

Meaning

(Turning to the vulture,) “duly permitted by me, ascend you to unsurpassed realms, O king of vultures of extraordinary energy ! Nay, cremated by me, attain the destiny which is the lot of those given to the performance of sacrifices and which is attained by him who has maintained the sacred fire all his life, nay, which is reserved for those who never retreat on the battle-field and which is intended for those who make gifts of land.” (29-30)

Meaning

Saying so, and placing the king of winged creatures on the pyre, which was got ready in the meantime by Lakṣmaṇa and was then lighted, distressed though he was, Śrī Rāma, whose mind was set on virtue, cremated him as one would cremate one’s own kinsman. (31)

Meaning

Repairing to the interior of the forest alongwith Lakṣmaṇa (son of Sumitrā) and digging out bulky roots known by the name of Mahārohi, the powerful, Śrī Rāma, who then covered the ground with blades of the sacred Kuśa grass with a view to offering them to the spirit of the deceased bird. (32)

Meaning

Nay, tearing off the pulp of the Mahārohi roots and kneading it into balls, the highly illustrious Śrī Rāma offered them to the soul of the cremated bird on the ground overspread with green Kuśa grass and lovely to look at. (33)

Meaning

For the benefit of the bird Śrī Rāma also uttered, they say, in a low voice the body of those holy texts, sacred to the manes, which the Brāhmaṇas recommend as conducive to the ascent of the spirit of a deceased mortal to heaven. (34)

Meaning

Repairing to the bank of the Godāvarī river, both the aforesaid sons of Daśaratha, the foremost of men, then proceeded to offer water to the spirit of the said king of vultures. (35)

Meaning

Having first bathed in the river, those two scions of Raghu then offered water to the spirit of the king of vultures according to the ceremony found prescribed in the scriptures. (36)

Meaning

Having in the first place accomplished a glorious deed (in the shape of staking his life to rescue Sītā from the clutches of Rāvaṇa, which was most difficult to accomplish, and secondly having been killed in action against Rāvaṇa and further cremated by Śrī Rāma, who was as good as an eminent seer of Vedic Mantras, the aforesaid king of vultures presently attained a holy destiny conducive to the blessedness of the soul. (37)

Meaning

Having offered water to the bird and setting their mind fully at rest about the future of Jaṭāyu, the foremost of birds, nay, focussing their mind on the recovery of Sītā, the two princes thereupon proceeded on their journey to the forest like Lord Viṣṇu and Indra, the two rulers of gods. (38)