Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 56

Meaning

The king of vultures too approached the same plateau on which all the aforesaid monkeys for their part had sat down to starve themselves to death. (1)

Meaning

He was no other than a long lived and glorious bird, the brother of Jaṭāyu, known by the name of Sampāti, whose strength and prowess were widely known. (2)

Meaning

Emerging all of a sudden from a cave of the great Vindhyan range and delighted in mind to observe the monkeys seated there, he spoke as follows : (3)

Meaning

“Even as in this world the fruit of a man’s past actions accrues to him according to the Law of Karma, this food in the shape of so many monkeys, which was ordained for me, has come of its own accord after a long time. (4)

Meaning

“I shall successively eat up one after the other all these monkeys seated in a line even as they fall dead successively due to starvation.” The bird uttered the foregoing words on perceiving the monkeys. (5)

Meaning

Greatly perturbed to hear the aforesaid utterance of that bird, who was covetous of food, Aṅgada presently spoke to Hanumān as follows : (6)

Meaning

“For bringing destruction to the monkeys under the pretext of Sītā, Yama (the god of retribution), son of the sun-god, has bodily come to this region. (7)

Meaning

“The purpose of Śrī Rāma has not been accomplished nor has the king’s injunction been carried out. In the meantime, this unforeseen calamity has overtaken the monkeys all of a sudden. (8)

Meaning

“The service rendered at Pañcavatī by Jaṭāyu, the king of vultures, who was keen to oblige Sītā (a princess of the Videha territory) has been heard of by you in its entirety. (9)

Meaning

“All living beings, even those born in the sub-human species of birds and beasts do what is pleasing to Śrī Rāma, even laying down their life, if necessary, as we are doing. (10)

Meaning

“Bound by love and compassion (for him alone as manifested in the form of all living beings) do people render good offices to one another. Therefore, lay down your life by yourselves for the sake of his service. Indeed a kindly act was done to Śrī Rāma (in the shape of laying down his life in his service) by Jaṭāyu, who knew what is right. We too have ventured on difficult roads for the sake of Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu) and feel thoroughly exhausted; but we have not found out Sītā, even though we have finally taken leave of our lives. Blessed is that king of vultures in that he was slain in an encounter by Rāvaṇa, nay, was rid once for all of the fear of Sugrīva, who was evidently the overlord of (the entire sub-human creation) and has attained the highest state by the grace of Śrī Rāma ! (11—13)

Meaning

“The monkeys have fallen into danger through the death of King Daśaratha, the destruction of Jaṭāyu and the abduction of Sītā (a princess of the Videha territory).(14)

Meaning

“Know the sojourn of Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmana in the forest with Sītā, and even so the destruction of Vālī encompassed by an arrow of Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu), and similarly the prospective extermination of all the ogres through the wrath of Śrī Rāma—all this evil to have been brought about by the boon granted by Daśaratha in favour of Kaikeyī.” (15-16)

Meaning

Greatly bewildered in mind to hear the aforesaid doleful cries uttered by the monkeys, and to perceive them tumbled down on the ground, the highly intelligent Sampāti, the king of vultures, spoke as follows in a piteous tone. (17)

Meaning

Nay, hearing the speech that had escaped from the lips of Aṅgada as above, the sharp-beaked vulture, Sampāti, spoke as follows, making a loud noise : (18)

Meaning

“Who is the being which proclaims in so many distinct words the death of my brother, Jaṭāyu, who was dearer to me than life itself, causing my heart to tremble as it were (with this heart-rending news)? (19)

Meaning

“How did an encounter take place between an ogre and the vulture in Janasthāna? This name of my younger brother has been heard of by me after a long time today. (20)

Meaning

“Nay, with your help I wish to bring myself down from the mountain citadel on which I am perched. I am highly gratified with the praises, heard after a very long time, of my younger brother, Jaṭāyu, who appreciated the virtues of others and was deserving of praise because of his exploits. Therefore, O leaders of monkeys, I long to hear about the destruction of my younger brother, Jaṭāyu, who lived in Janasthāna. Again, how did King Daśaratha, a friend of the selfsame brother of mine—whose beloved eldest son is Śrī Rāma, the favourite of his elders—meet his end? My wings having been scorched by the rays of the sun, I cannot fly about. All the same, I wish to descend from this eminence, O tamers of your foes.” (21—24)