रामः प्रेक्ष्य तु तम् गृध्रम् भुवि रौद्रेण पातितम् | सौमित्रिम् मित्र संपन्नम् इदम् वचनम् अब्रवीत् || ३-६८-१
raamaH prekShya tu tam gR^idhram bhuvi raudreNa paatitam |saumitrim mitra saMpannam idam vacanam abraviit || 3-68-1
Rama on seeing that eagle felled to ground by the atrocious Ravana, said this sentence to Soumitri who is an asset for good companionability. [3-68-1]
मम अयम् नूनम् अर्थेषु यतमानो विहंगमः | राक्षसेन हतः संख्ये प्राणान् त्यजति मत् कृते || ३-६८-२
mama ayam nuunam artheShu yatamaano viha.ngamaH |raakShasena hataH sa.nkhye praaNaan tyajati mat kR^ite || 3-68-2
"While this bird is venturing in my concern the demon felled him in combat and he is leaving off his lives owing to me, definitely... [3-68-2]
अति खिन्नः शरीरे अस्मिन् प्राणो लक्ष्मण विद्यते | तथा स्वर विहीनो अयम् विक्लवम् समुदीक्षते || ३-६८-३
ati khinnaH shariire asmin praaNo lakShmaNa vidyate |tathaa svara vihiino ayam viklavam samudiikShate || 3-68-3
"Obviously, lives in his body are very feeble, oh, Lakshmana, it is natural, isn't it, and he looks highly anguished with a dulled voice..." Thus on saying to Lakshmana, Rama then spoke to Jataayu. [3-68-3]
जटायो यदि शक्नोषि वाक्यम् व्याहरितुम् पुनः | सीताम् आख्याहि भद्रम् ते वधम् आख्याहि च आत्मनः || ३-६८-४
jaTaayo yadi shaknoShi vaakyam vyaaharitum punaH |siitaam aakhyaahi bhadram te vadham aakhyaahi ca aatmanaH || 3-68-4
"Oh, Jataayu, if you are in fine fettle to further reiterate words, relate about Seetha, let safe betide you, and recount how you are murdered, too... [3-68-4]
किम् निमित्तो जहार आर्याम् रावणः तस्य किम् मया | अपराधम् तु यम् दृष्ट्वा रावणेन हृता प्रिया || ३-६८-५
kim nimitto jahaara aaryaam raavaNaH tasya kim mayaa |aparaadham tu yam dR^iShTvaa raavaNena hR^itaa priyaa || 3-68-5
"What is the reason for Ravana in stealing that noblewoman, and even what is the wrong I have committed in his respect, keeping which in view that Ravana stole my ladylove... [3-68-5]
कथम् तत् चन्द्र संकाशम् मुखम् आसीत् मनोहरम् | सीतया कानि च उक्तानि तस्मिन् काले द्विजोत्तम || ३-६८-६
katham tat candra sa.nkaasham mukham aasiit manoharam |siitayaa kaani ca uktaani tasmin kaale dvijottama || 3-68-6
"How was that moon similar heart-stealing face of hers at that time of abduction, oh, best bird, and even what are the words she uttered when being abducted... [3-68-6]
कथम् वीर्यः कथम् रूपः किम् कर्मा स च राक्षसः | क्व च अस्य भवनम् तात ब्रूहि मे परिपृच्छतः || ३-६८-७
katham viiryaH katham ruupaH kim karmaa sa ca raakShasaH |kva ca asya bhavanam taata bruuhi me paripR^icchhataH || 3-68-7
"What is his stamina of that demon? What is his form? And what are his strategies? And where is his stronghold? Oh, sire, tell me while I ask you inquisitively..." Rama urged Jataayu thus for information. [3-68-7]
तम् उद्वीक्ष्य सः धर्मात्मा विलपन्तम् अनाथवत् | वाचा विक्लवया रामम् इदम् वचनम् अब्रवीत् || ३-६८-८
tam udviikShya saH dharmaatmaa vilapantam anaathavat |vaacaa viklavayaa raamam idam vacanam abraviit || 3-68-8
Then that warm-hearted Jataayu with his eyes rolling upwards saw Rama and with a fluttery voice said this sentence to Rama who is wailing like an orphan. [3-68-8]
सा हृता राक्षसेन्द्रेण रावणेन दुरात्मना | मायाम् आस्थाय विपुलाम् वात दुर्दिन संकुलाम् || ३-६८-९
saa hR^itaa raakShasendreNa raavaNena duraatmanaa |maayaam aasthaaya vipulaam vaata dur.hdina sa.nkulaam || 3-68-9
"Resorting to his illusionistic devices like creating an immense and tumultuous windstorm and cloud-cover, the flagitious chief of demons Ravana abducted Seetha... [3-68-9]
परिक्लांतस्य मे तात पक्षौ चित्त्वा निशाचरः | सीताम् आदाय वैदेहीम् प्रयातो दक्षिणा मुखः || ३-६८-१०
pariklaa.ntasya me taata pakShau chittvaa nishaacaraH |siitaam aadaaya vaidehiim prayaato dakShiNaa mukhaH || 3-68-10
"That night walker hacked both my wings when I was overtired, and went southward taking the princess of Videha, Seetha, along with him... [3-68-10]
उपरुध्यन्ति मे प्राणा दृष्टिर् भ्रमति राघव | पश्यामि वृक्षान् सौवर्णान् उशीर कृत मूर्धजान् || ३-६८-११
uparudhyanti me praaNaa dR^iShTir bhramati raaghava |pashyaami vR^ikShaan sauvarNaan ushiira kR^ita muurdhajaan || 3-68-11
"My sight is spinning and my lives are stifled, oh, Raghava, I am now seeing golden trees with cuscus grass as their treetops... [3-68-11]
येन याति मुहूर्तेन सीताम् आदाय रावणः | विप्रनष्टम् धनम् क्षिप्रम् तत् स्वामि प्रतिपद्यते || ३-६८-१२ विन्दो नाम मुहूर्तो असौ स च काकुत्स्थ न अबुधत् |
yena yaati muhuurtena siitaam aadaaya raavaNaH |vipranaShTam dhanam kShipram tat svaami pratipadyate || 3-68-12vindo naama muhuurto asau sa ca kaakutstha na abudhat |
"In which spell of time Ravana has gone taking away Seetha, that spell is named as Vinda... if any riches are lost during that spell, the original possessor of those riches will repossess them very quickly... oh, Kakutstha, he that Ravana is unmindful of that fact and stole Seetha only to loose her... [3-68-12, 13a]
त्वत् प्रियाम् जानकीम् हृत्वा रावणो राक्षसेश्वर | झषवत् बडिशम् गृह्य क्षिप्रम् एव विनश्यति || ३-६८-१३
tvat priyaam jaanakiim hR^itvaa raavaNo raakshaseshvara |jhaShavat baDisham gR^ihya kShipram eva vinashyati || 3-68-13
"On stealing your ladylove Janaki, that chief of demons, Ravana, will ruin himself, as with a fish which swallows a baited fishhook... [3-68-13b, c]
न च त्वया व्यथा कार्या जनकस्य सुताम् प्रति | वैदेह्या रंस्यसे क्षिप्रम् हत्वा तम् रणमूर्धनि || ३-६८-१४
na ca tvayaa vyathaa kaaryaa janakasya sutaam prati |vaidehyaa raMsyase kShipram hatvaa tam raNamuur.hdhani || 3-68-14
"Impractical is your anguishing for the daughter of Janaka, as you will delight yourself with Vaidehi in no time, on killing that Ravana in the vanguard of a war..." Thus saying Jataayu paused for a while. [3-68-14]
असंमूढस्य गृध्रस्य रामम् प्रति अनुभाषतः | आस्यात् सुस्राव रुधिरम् म्रियमाणस्य स अमिषम् || ३-६८-१५
asaMmuuDhasya gR^idhrasya raamam prati anubhaaShataH |aasyaat susraava rudhiram mriyamaaNasya sa amiSham || 3-68-15
Though Jataayu is speaking on to Rama with an alert mind, blood freely flowed from his mouth with shreds of flesh as death verged on him, even then he struggled to say. [3-68-15]
पुत्रो विश्रवसः साक्षात् भ्राता वैश्रवणस्य च | इति उक्त्वा दुर्लभान् प्राणान् मुमोच पतगेश्वरः || ३-६८-१६
putro vishravasaH saakShaat bhraataa vaishravaNasya ca |iti uktvaa durlabhaan praaNaan mumoca patageshvaraH || 3-68-16
"That demon is the son of Vishravasa... literally... the brother of Kubera..." on saying thus, that lord of birds released his lives, which are unobtainable for oneself. [3-68-16]
ब्रूहि ब्रूहि इति रामस्य ब्रुवाणस्य कृतांजलेः | त्यक्त्वा शरीरम् गृध्रस्य जग्मुः प्राणा विहायसम् || ३-६८-१७
bruuhi bruuhi iti raamasya bruvaaNasya kR^itaa.njaleH |tyaktvaa shariiram gR^idhrasya jagmuH praaNaa vihaayasam || 3-68-17
But the lives of Jataayu departing from his body went into thin air before the very eyes of Rama who is still speaking to him with folded-palms, "tell... tell more..." [3-68-17]
स निक्षिप्य शिरो भूमौ प्रसार्य चरणौ तदा | विक्षिप्य च शरीरम् स्वम् पपात धरणी तले || ३-६८-१८
sa nikShipya shiro bhuumau prasaarya caraNau tadaa |vikShipya ca shariiram svam papaata dharaNii tale || 3-68-18
Jataayu flopped his head on earth, sprawled his feet on ground, and then his body collapsed onto the surface of earth writhing jerkily. [3-68-18]
तम् गृध्रम् प्रेक्ष्य ताम्र अक्षम् गत असुम् अचलोपमम् | रामः सु बहुभिः दुह्खैः दीनः सौमित्रिम् अब्रवीत् || ३-६८-१९
tam gR^idhram prekShya taamra akSham gata asum acalopamam |raamaH su bahubhiH duhkhaiH diinaH saumitrim abraviit || 3-68-19
He who is worsened by very many mishaps that Rama, on seeing the mountainous eagle whose eyes are bloodshot and whose lives have gone, said this way to Soumitri... [3-68-19]
बहूनि रक्षसाम् वासे वर्षाणि वसता सुखम् | अनेन दण्डकारण्ये विशीर्णम् इह पक्षिणा || ३-६८-२०
bahuuni rakShasaam vaase varShaaNi vasataa sukham |anena daNDakaaraNye vishiirNam iha pakShiNaa || 3-68-20
"This bird which for years together lived fearlessly in Dandaka forest, a habitat of demons, that bird wilted to death, because of me... [3-68-20]
अनेक वार्षिको यः तु चिर काल समुत्थितः | सो अयम् अद्य हतः शेते कालो हि दुर्अतिक्रमः || ३-६८-२१
aneka vaarShiko yaH tu cira kaala samutthitaH |so ayam adya hataH shete kaalo hi dur.hatikramaH || 3-68-21
"He who has longevity over many years, who actively strived for a long for rectitude, he is now killed and prostrating before the Time, because of me... alas... it is indeed impossible to infringe the Time... [3-68-21]
पश्य लक्ष्मण गृध्रो अयम् उपकारी हतः च मे | सीताम् अभ्यवपन्नो हि रावणेन बलीयसा || ३-६८-२२
pashya lakShmaNa gR^idhro ayam upakaarii hataH ca me |siitaam abhyavapanno hi raavaNena baliiyasaa || 3-68-22
"Lakshmana, this eagle which has dashed to rescue Seetha in order to render help to me is slain by that brute-forced Ravana, only because of me, you see... [3-68-22]
गृध्र राज्यम् परित्यज्य पितृ पैतामहम् महत् | मम हेतोः अयम् प्राणान् मुमोच पतगेश्वरः || ३-६८-२३
gR^idhra raajyam parityajya pitR^i paitaamaham mahat |mama hetoH ayam praaNaan mumoca patageshvaraH || 3-68-23
"On abandoning great empire of eagles belonging to his father and forefathers this lord of bird has now abandoned his lives too, only for my sake... [3-68-23]
सर्वत्र खलु दृश्यन्ते साधवो धर्म चारिणः | शूराः शरण्याः सौमित्रे तिर्यक् योनि गतेषु अपि || ३-६८-२४
sarvatra khalu dR^ishyante saadhavo dharma caariNaH |shuuraaH sharaNyaaH saumitre tiryak yoni gateShu api || 3-68-24
"Universally noticeable are the protective, prepotent, principled ones that are the followers of probity, oh, Soumitri, even though their births are avian or bestial... [3-68-24]
सीता हरणजं दुःखम् न मे सौम्य तथा गतम् | यथा विनाशो गृध्रस्य मत् कृते च परंतप || ३-६८-२५
siitaa haraNajaM duHkham na me saumya tathaa gatam |yathaa vinaasho gR^idhrasya mat kR^ite ca para.ntapa || 3-68-25
"To me, oh, enemy-inflamer, oh, gentle Lakshmana, anguish caused by Seetha's abduction is not that much, when compared with the anguish caused by the perish of this eagle, that too, because of me... [3-68-25]
राजा दशरथः श्रीमान् यथा मम मया यशाः | पूजनीयः च मान्यः च तथा अयम् पतगेश्वरः || ३-६८-२६
raajaa dasharathaH shriimaan yathaa mama mayaa yashaaH |puujaniiyaH ca maanyaH ca tathaa ayam patageshvaraH || 3-68-26
"As to how the celebrated and highly renowned king Dasharatha is venerable and honourable for me, likewise this lord of birds is also a venerable and honourable one to me... [3-68-26]
सौमित्रे हर काष्ठानि निर्मथिष्यामि पावकम् | गृध्र राजम् दिधक्षामि मत् कृते निधनम् गतम् || ३-६८-२७
saumitre hara kaaShThaani nir.hmathiShyaami paavakam |gR^idhra raajam didhakShaami mat kR^ite nidhanam gatam || 3-68-27
"Oh, Soumitri, get the firewood and I will produce fire by friction of two sticks, as I wish to cremate this lord of birds who expired because of me... [3-68-27]
नाथम् पतग लोकस्य चिताम् आरोपयामि अहम् | इमम् धक्ष्यामि सौमित्रे हतम् रौद्रेण रक्षसा || ३-६८-२८
naatham pataga lokasya citaam aaropayaami aham |imam dhakShyaami saumitre hatam raudreNa rakShasaa || 3-68-28
"Oh, Soumitri, I will mount this lord of realm of birds onto the pyre and cremate him who is killed by a feral demon..." Thus saying to Lakshmana, Rama said this to dead eagle Jataayu. [3-68-28]
या गतिः यज्ञ शीलानाम् आहित अग्नेः च या गतिः | अ पर आवर्तिनाम् या च या च भूमि प्रदायिनाम् || ३-६८-२९ मया त्वम् समनुज्ञातो गच्छ लोकान् अनुत्तमान् | गृध्र राज महा सत्त्व संस्कृतः च मया व्रज || ३-६८-३०
yaa gatiH yaj~na shiilaanaam aahita agneH ca yaa gatiH |a para aavartinaam yaa ca yaa ca bhuumi pradaayinaam || 3-68-29mayaa tvam samanuj~naato gacchha lokaan anuttamaan |gR^idhra raaja mahaa sattva sa.nskR^itaH ca mayaa vraja || 3-68-30
"Oh, greatly mighty king of eagles, by me cremated ritually and by me aptly consented to, you depart to the unexcelled heavenly worlds... you depart to those worlds that are destined for the virtuosos of Vedic-rituals, and to those worlds that are destined for the practisers of ascesis amid Five-Ritual-fires, and to those that are destined for un-retreating combatants, and to those worlds that destined for the donors of lands..." So said Rama to the departed Jataayu. [3-68-29, 30]
एवम् उक्त्वा चिताम् दीप्ताम् आरोप्य पतगेश्वरम् | ददाह रामो धर्मात्मा स्व बन्धुम् इव दुःखितः || ३-६८-३१
raamo atha saha saumitriH vanam yaatvaa sa viiryavaan |sthuulaan hatvaa mahaa rohiin anu tastaara tam dvijam || 3-68-32
On saying that way, that ethical-souled Rama mounted that lord of birds onto the pyre and he sorrowfully incinerated that eagle in a flaring fire of pyre, as he would do in respect of his own deceased relative. [3-68-31]
रामो अथ सह सौमित्रिः वनम् यात्वा स वीर्यवान् | स्थूलान् हत्वा महा रोहीन् अनु तस्तार तम् द्विजम् || ३-६८-३२
rohi maaMsaani ca uddhR^itya peshii kR^itvaa mahaayashaaH |shakunaaya dadau raamo ramye harita shaadvale || 3-68-33
Then that resolute Rama on going into forest along with Soumitri hunted a robust-bodied, big Rohi animal, or, Kesari animal, and then he spread sacred grass on ground to place that offering to the deceased soul of that bird. [3-68-32]
रोहि मांसानि च उद्धृत्य पेशी कृत्वा महायशाः | शकुनाय ददौ रामो रम्ये हरित शाद्वले || ३-६८-३३
yat tat pretasya mar.htyasya kathayanti dvijaatayaH |tat svarga gamanam pitryam kShipram raamo jajaapa ha || 3-68-34
On drawing up the flesh of that Rohi animal and lumping it to gobbets, that highly observant Rama placed those gobbets on pleasant greenish pasturelands as obsequial offerings in respect of that bird Jataayu. [3-68-33]
यत् तत् प्रेतस्य मर्त्यस्य कथयन्ति द्विजातयः | तत् स्वर्ग गमनम् पित्र्यम् क्षिप्रम् रामो जजाप ह || ३-६८-३४
tato godaavariim gatvaa nadiim nara vara aatmajau |udakam cakratuH tasmai gR^idhra raajaaya tau ubhau || 3-68-35
Rama immediately chanted Vedic hymns that are employed in such funerals of one's own paternal people, as Brahmans say that those hymns are employable in such rites as they lead the soul of the departed to heaven. [3-68-34]
ततो गोदावरीम् गत्वा नदीम् नर वर आत्मजौ | उदकम् चक्रतुः तस्मै गृध्र राजाय तौ उभौ || ३-६८-३५
shaastra dR^iShTena vidhinaa jale gR^idhaaya raaghavau |snaatvaa tau gR^idhra raajaaya udakam cakruH tadaa || 3-68-36
Then both the sons of that notable man, namely Dasharatha, on going to River Godavari they have oblated waters for that king of eagles, Jataayu. [3-68-35]
शास्त्र दृष्टेन विधिना जले गृधाय राघवौ | स्नात्वा तौ गृध्र राजाय उदकम् चक्रुः तदा || ३-६८-३६
sa gR^idhra raajaH kR^itavaan yashaskaramsu duShkaram karma raNe nipaatitaH |maharShi kalpena ca sa.nskR^itaH tadaajagaama puNyaam gatim aatmanaH shubhaam || 3-68-37
Both of the Raghava-s took funeral baths in the waters of River Godavari and then made water oblations to the king of eagles. [3-68-36]
स गृध्र राजः कृतवान् यशस्करम् सु दुष्करम् कर्म रणे निपातितः | महर्षि कल्पेन च संस्कृतः तदा जगाम पुण्याम् गतिम् आत्मनः शुभाम् || ३-६८-३७
kR^itodakau tau api pakshi sattamesthiraam ca buddhim praNidhaaya jagmutuH |praveshya siitaa adhigamane tato manovanam surendrau iva viShNu vaasavau || 3-68-38
That king of eagle Jataayu, who has performed a creditworthy deed of stalling and combating Ravana, but who is felled by that Ravana, went away to the merited and auspicious heavenly realms of his own, as and when consecrated by sublime sage like Rama. [3-68-37]
कृतोदकौ तौ अपि पक्षि सत्तमे स्थिराम् च बुद्धिम् प्रणिधाय जग्मुतुः | प्रवेश्य सीता अधिगमने ततो मनो वनम् सुरेन्द्रौ इव विष्णु वासवौ || ३-६८-३८
Even those two, Rama and Lakshmana, on performing water oblations in respect of that best bird Jataayu, and on assertively giving thought to the information given by Jataayu, they like the chiefs of gods, namely Vishnu and Indra, went to southerly woods when their mind is set to search for Seetha. [3-68-38]
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अरण्य काण्डे अष्ट षष्टितमः सर्गः
