Sloka & Translation

[Jatayu sees Ravana carrying Sita-- pleads with Ravana to return Sita-- Ravana pays no heed Jatayu fights with Ravana.]

taṅ śabdamavasuptastu jaṭāyuratha śuśruvē.

nirīkṣya rāvaṇaṅ kṣipraṅ vaidēhīṅ ca dadarśa saḥ৷৷3.50.1৷৷


avasuptaḥ reposing, jaṭāyuḥ Jatayu, taṅ śabdam that sound, śuśruvē heard, atha and, saḥ he, kṣipram at once, nirīkṣya observed, rāvaṇam Ravana, vaidēhīṅ ca and Vaidehi, dadarśa saw.

While reposing, Jatayu heard the cry and at once looked up and saw Ravana and Vaidehi.
tataḥ parvatakūṭābhastīkṣṇatuṇḍaḥ khagōttamaḥ.

vanaspatigataśśrīmānvyājahāra śubhāṅ giram৷৷3.50.2৷৷


tataḥ then, parvatakūṭābhaḥ looking like a part of the mountain, tīkṣṇatuṇḍaḥ sharp-beaked, śrīmān glorious, vanaspatigataḥ from the top of the tree, khagōttamaḥ best among birds, śubhām auspicious, giram words, vyājahāra uttered.

Glorious Jatayu, the best among the birds, looked like the peak of a mountain.
His beak was sharp. His words were auspious. He spoke from the top of the tree:
daśagrīva sthitō dharmē purāṇē satyasaṅśrayaḥ.

jaṭāyurnāma nāmnāhaṅ gṛdhrarājō mahābalaḥ৷৷3.50.3৷৷


daśagrīva ten-headed Ravana, aham I, purāṇē dharmē in eternal dharma, sthitaḥ adhering to dharma, satyasaṅśrayaḥ who abides in truth, mahābalaḥ mighty, gṛdhrarājaḥ king of vultures, nāmnā by name, jaṭāyurnāma Jatayu.

O ten-headed Ravana, I am Jatayu, king of vultures. I am mighty. An eternal follower, of dharma, I am an adherent to truth.
rājā sarvasya lōkasya mahēndravaruṇōpamaḥ.

lōkānāṅ ca hitē yuktō rāmō daśarathātmajaḥ৷৷3.50.4৷৷


daśarathātmajaḥ Dasaratha's son, rāmaḥ Rama, sarvasya of the entire, lōkasya world, rājā king, mahēndravaruṇōpamaḥ equal to Indra and Varuna, lōkānām in the world, hitē in the well-being, yuktaḥ engaged.

Rama, Dasaratha's son, is the king of the entire world. He is equal to Indra and Varuna. He is ever engaged in the welfare of the entire world.
tasyaiṣā lōkanāthasya dharmapatnī yaśasvinī.

sītā nāma varārōhā yāṅ tvaṅ hartumihēcchasi৷৷3.50.5৷৷


yām whom, tvam you, iha from here, hartum to take away, icchasi are desiring, ēṣā she is, sītā nāma Sita by name, varārōhā a beautiful lady, yaśasvinī illustrious, lōkanāthasya of the lord of the world, tasya his, dharmapatnī wife.

The lady you want to abduct from here is the famous Sita, the lawful wife of Rama, the lord of the world.
kathaṅ rājāsthitō dharmē paradārānparāmṛśēt.

rakṣaṇīyā viśēṣēṇa rājadārā mahābala৷৷3.50.6৷৷


dharmē in righteousness, sthitaḥ adheres, rājā king, paradārān another's wife, katham how, parāmṛśēt can any one violate, mahābala powerful, rājadārāḥ king's wife, viśēṣēṇa specially, rakṣaṇīyāḥ should be protected.

How can a king who adheres to righteousness outrage another's wife ? O powerful one, a king's wife in particular should be protected.
nivartaya matiṅ nīcāṅ paradārābhimarśanāt.

na tatsamācarēddhīrō yatparō.sya vigarhayēt৷৷3.50.7৷৷

yathātmanastathānyēṣāṅ dārā rakṣyā vipaścitā.


nīcām mean, matim in mind, paradārābhimarśanāt thought of touching another's wife, nivartaya refrain yourself, paraḥ others, asya his, yat such deeds, vigarhayēt if he reproaches, tat that, dhīraḥ learned, na samācarēt should not adopt, vipaścitā by the wise man, ātmanaḥ his own, yathā likewise, tathā in the same way, anyēṣām another's, dārāḥ wife, rakṣyāḥ be protected.

Refrain yourself from the vile thought of violating other's wives. Wise men do not adopt what is censured by others. Just like one's own, the wise should protect other's wives.
dharmamarthaṅ vā kāmaṅ vā śiṣṭāśśāstrēṣvanāgatam৷৷3.50.8৷৷

vyavasyantyanu rājānaṅ dharmaṅ paulastyanandana.


paulastyanandana O son of Paulastya, śiṣṭāḥ learned, śāstrēṣu sastras, anāgatam unknown, arthaṅ vā wish for material, yadi vā even if, kāmam pleasures, dharmam righteousness, rājānam anu kings follow, vyavasyanti prescribe.

O son of Paulastya! learned men determine the path of dharma artha and kama, following a king's conduct even if they are not declared in sastras.
rājā dharmasya kāmasya dravyāṇāṅ cōttamō nidhiḥ৷৷3.50.9৷৷

dharmaśśubhaṅ vā pāpaṅ vā rājamūlaṅ pravartatē.


dharmasya of righteousness, kāmasya of pleasures, dravyāṇāṅ ca and for material wealth, rājā king, uttamaḥ best, nidhiḥ repository, dharmaḥ righteousness, śubhaṅvā good or, pāpaṅ vā or bad, rājamūlam king is at the root, pravartatē is practised.

A king is the best repository of rigteousness, material wealth and pleasures. The king is the root of dharma, virtue and sin.
pāpasvabhāvaścapalaḥ kathaṅ tvaṅ rakṣasāṅ vara৷৷3.50.10৷৷

aiśvaryamabhisamprāptō vimānamiva duṣkṛtiḥ.


rakṣasām of demons, vara best one, pāpasvabhāvaḥ of sinful nature, capalaḥ fickle-minded, tvam you are, duṣkṛtiḥ who does forbidden acts, vimānamiva like this celestial chariot, aiśvaryam wealth, katham how, abhisamprāptaḥ did you get?

O best of demons ! by nature you are sinful, and fickle-minded. You do all forbidden acts. Otherwise,how could you get this wealth, like the celestial chariot?
kāmaṅ svabhāvō yō yasya na śakyaḥ parimārjitum৷৷3.50.11৷৷

na hi duṣṭātmanāmāryamāvasatyālayē ciram.


yaḥ whatever, yasya his, svabhāvaḥ nature, parimārjitum to erase, kāmam indeed, na śakyaḥ not possible, duṣṭātmanām evil-minded people, ālayē in the house, ciram for long time, āryam prosperity, na āvasati hi will not be.

Indeed, it is not possible to erase the nature of any one, whatever it be. Prosperity does not rest for long in the house of the evil-minded.
viṣayē vā purē vā tē yadā rāmō mahābalaḥ৷৷3.50.12৷৷

nāparādhyati dharmātmā kathaṅ tasyāparādhyasi.


mahābalaḥ powerful, dharmātmā righteous self, rāmaḥ Rama, yadā since, tē to you, viṣayē vā in your kingdom, purē vā or in the city, nāparādhyati has not offended, tasya his, katham how, aparādhyasi do you offend.

Powerful and righteous Rama has not offended you, your kingdom or your city. Why do you offend him?
yadi śūrpaṇakhāhētōrjanasthānagataḥ kharaḥ৷৷3.50.13৷৷

ativṛttō hataḥ pūrvaṅ rāmēṇākliṣṭakarmaṇā.

atra brūhi yathātattvaṅ kō rāmasya vyatikramaḥ৷৷3.50.14৷৷

yasya tvaṅ lōkanāthasya bhāryāṅ hṛtvā gamiṣyasi.


śūrpaṇakhāhētōḥ on account of Surpanakha, janasthānagataḥ staying in Janasthana, kharaḥ Khara, ativṛttaḥ trespassed, ākliṣṭakarmaṇā by one who does something without much effort, rāmēṇa Rama, pūrvam earlier, hataḥ yadi if killed, atra here, lōkanāthasya lord of the world (Rama), yasya whose, bhāryām wife, tvam you, hṛtvā gamiṣyasi (hariṣyasi) taking away, rāmasya Rama's, vyatikramaḥ transgression of dharma, kaḥ what, yathātattvam truly, brūhi tell.

On account of Surpanakha, Khara trespassed into Janasthana and got killed by Rama, without much effort. Tell me truly, what transgression (of dharma) did he commit for which you are stealing away the wife of Rama who is the lord of this world?.
kṣipraṅ visṛja vaidēhīṅ mā tvā ghōrēṇa cakṣuṣā৷৷3.50.15৷৷

dahēddahanabhūtēna vṛtramindrāśaniryathā.


kṣipram at once, vaidēhīm Vaidehi, visṛja leave, tvā you, indrāśaniḥ Indra's thunderbolt, vṛtraṅ yathā like Vritra, dahanabhūtēna with fury, ghōrēṇa with fierce, cakṣuṣā with looks, mā dahēt may not burn.

Leave Vaidehi at once lest with her fierce looks you should be burnt down like demon Vrtra by the thunderbolt of Indra.
sarpamāśīviṣaṅ baddhvā vastrāntē nāvabudhyasē৷৷3.50.16৷৷

grīvāyāṅ pratisaktaṅ ca kālapāśaṅ na paśyasi.


āśīviṣam venomous, sarpam serpent, vasrāntē with the skirt of your cloth, baddhvā binding,
nāvabudhyasē not understand, grīvāyām to the neck, pratisaktam fastened tightly, kālapāśam noose of death, na paśyasi do not see.

You are not aware that you are tying a venomous snake with the skirt of your cloth. worn by you. You are not able to see the noose of death tightened around your neck.
sa bhārassaumya bhartavyō yō naraṅ nāvasādayēt৷৷3.50.17৷৷

tadannamapi bhōktavyaṅ jīryatē yadanāmayam.


saumya O gentle one, yaḥ that which, naram man, nāvasādayēt does not fatigue, saḥ such, bhāraḥ weight, bhartavyaḥ should be carried, yat which, anāmayam free from any disease, jīryatē is digested, tat that only, annam food, bhōktavyam should be eaten, api even.

O gentle Ravana! one should carry that much of weight which does not tire him. One should eat only that wholesome food which can be easily digested.
yatkṛtvā na bhavēddharmō na kīrtirna yaśō bhuvi৷৷3.50.18৷৷

śarīrasya bhavētkhēdaḥ kastatkarma samācarēt.


yat by what, kṛtvā doing, dharmaḥ duty, na bhavēt does not beget, bhuvi world, kīrtiḥ fame, na nor, yaśaḥ glory, na nor, śarīrasya to the body, khēdaḥ exhaustion, bhavēt brings, tat that, karma deed, kaḥ who, samācarēt will practise?

Who will do such a deed which cannot beget dharma, fame or glory in the world? Who will do such deeds that bring only exhaustion to the body?
ṣaṣṭirvarṣasahasrāṇi mama jātasya rāvaṇa৷৷3.50.19৷৷

pitṛpaitāmahaṅ rājyaṅ yathāvadanutiṣṭhataḥ.


rāvaṇa Ravana, pitṛpaitāmaham hereditary, rājyam kingdom, yathāvat justly, anutiṣṭataḥ while ruling, jātasya since birth, mama me, ṣaṣṭiḥ sixty, varṣasahasrāṇi thosand years are completed.

Sixty thousand years ago I was born, O Ravana ! Since then I have ruled justly my hereditary kingdom.
vṛddhō.haṅ tvaṅ yuvā dhanvī saśaraḥ kavacī rathī৷৷3.50.20৷৷

tathāpyādāya vaidēhīṅ kuśalī na gamiṣyasi.


aham I am, vṛddhaḥ old, tvam you, yuvā young, dhanvī wielding bow, saśaraḥ and arrows, kavacī shield, rathī riding on the chariot, tathāpi even then, vaidēhīm Vaidehi, ādāya carrying, kuśalī safely, na gamiṣyasi will not go.

I am old, you are young, wielding a bow and arrows, with shield to protect and chariot to ride. Even then I will not let you go safe with Vaidehi kidnapped.
na śaktastvaṅ balāddhartuṅ vaidēhīṅ mama paśyataḥ৷৷3.50.21৷৷

hētubhirnyāyasaṅsiddhaiddhṛvāṅ vēdaśrutīmiva.


mama paśyataḥ within my very sight, tvam you, vaidēhīm Vaidehi, nyāyasaṅsiddhaiḥ by those bound by logic, hētubhiḥ by reason, dhruvām everlasting, vēdaśrutīmiva like revelations of the Vedas, balāt by force, hartum abduct, na śaktaḥ not possible for you.

You cannot carry Vaidehi by force within my very sight just as the everlasting revelations of the Vedas cannot be robbed by mere logic of reason.
yuddhyasva yadi śūrō.si muhūrtaṅ tiṣṭha rāvaṇa৷৷3.50.22৷৷

śayiṣyasē hatō bhūmau yathāpūrvaṅ kharastathā.


rāvaṇa O Ravana, śūraḥ asi yadi if you are a hero, yuddhyasva do fight with me, muhūrtam tiṣṭha stay awhile, pūrvam earlier, kharaḥ Khara, yathā as he was, tathā likewise, hataḥ slayed, bhūmau on the earth, śayiṣyasē will sleep.

O Ravana, if you are brave, fight with me. In a moment, you will be killed like Khara and lie down on the ground.
asakṛtsaṅyugē yēna nihatā daityadānavāḥ৷৷3.50.23৷৷

nacirāccīravāsāstvāṅ rāmō yudhi vadhiṣyati.


yēna by whom, asakṛt many times, saṅyugē in war, daityadānavāḥ demons, nihatāḥ were slain, tvām you, nacirāt soon, cīravāsāḥ clad in bark robes, rāmaḥ Rama, yudhi in war, vadhiṣyati will slay৷৷

Clad in bark garments, Rama, who has often slain demons in the past will soon kill you in war.
kiṅ nu śakyaṅ mayā kartuṅ gataudūraṅ nṛpātmajau৷৷3.50.24৷৷

kṣipraṅ tvaṅ naśyasē nīca tayōrbhītō na saṅśayaḥ.


mayā by me, kiṅ nu what else, kartum to do, śakyam am able, nṛpātmajau the two princes, dūram far away, gatau have gone, nīca mean fellow, tayōḥ both of them, bhītaḥ fearing, tvam you, kṣipram at once, naśyasē will be destroyed, saṅśayaḥ doubt, na not.

What can I do? O mean fellow! the two princes have gone far away.You will soon be destroyed out of fear for them. There is no doubt.
na hi mē jīvamānasya nayiṣyasi śubhāmimām৷৷3.50.25৷৷

sītāṅ kamalapatrākṣīṅ rāmasya mahiṣīṅ priyām.


mē myself, jīvamānasya while I am alive, śubhām auspicious, kamalapatrākṣīm lotus-eyed lady, rāmasya priyām Rama's dear, mahiṣīm consort, imām this lady, sītām Sita, na nayiṣyasi will not take.

I will not let you take away the auspicious, lotus-eyed Sita, the dear consort of Rama as long as I am alive.
avaśyaṅ tu mayā kāryaṅ priyaṅ tasya mahātmanaḥ৷৷3.50.26৷৷

jīvitēnāpi rāmasya tathā daśarathasya ca.


mahātmanaḥ great soul, tasya his, rāmasya Rama's, tathā so, daśarathasya ca and Dasaratha's, mayā my, avaśyam certainly, jīvitēnāpi even giving up my life, priyam dear, kāryam task.

I should do this important work of those great souls, Rama and Dasaratha, even if it claims my life.
tiṣṭha tiṣṭha daśagrīva muhūrtaṅ paśya rāvaṇa৷৷3.50.27৷৷

yuddhātithyaṅ pradāsyāmi yathāprāṇaṅ niśācara.

vṛntādiva phalaṅ tvāṅ tu pātayēyaṅ rathōttamāt৷৷3.50.28৷৷


daśagrīva ten-headed, muhūrtam for a short while, tiṣṭha tiṣṭha stay, stay, rāvaṇa Ravana, paśya look, niśācara nightwalker, yathāprāṇam as long as I am alive, yuddhātithyam hospitality of war , pradāsyāmi will accord, vṛntāt from the stalk, phalamiva like a ripe fruit is dropped down, tvām you, rathōttamāt from the best of the chariots, pātayēyam will pull you down.

O ten- headed Ravana! stay, stay for a while. O demon ! as long as I am alive I will treat you with the hospitality of war. You will be pulled down from this best of the chariots like a ripe fruit drops from the stalk.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē pañcāśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the fiftieth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.