Sloka & Translation

[Jatayu informs Rama about his combat with Ravana and Sita's abduction-- Jatayu's death-- cremation ]

रामस्सम्प्रेक्ष्य तं गृध्रं भुवि रौद्रेण पातितम्।

सौमित्रिं मित्रसम्पन्नमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।।3.68.1।।


रौद्रेण by fierce, भुवि ground, पातितम् thrown down, तं गृध्रम् that vulture, प्रेक्ष्य seeing, रामः Rama, मित्रसम्पन्नम् friendly, सौमित्रिम् Lakshmana, इदं वचनम् these words, अब्रवीत् spoke.

Seeing the vulture lying on the ground thrown down by the fierce demon, Rama said to friendly Lakshmana:
ममायं नूनमर्थेषु यतमानो विहङ्गमः।

राक्षसेन हतस्संख्ये प्राणांस्त्यक्ष्यति दुस्त्यजान्।।3.68.2।।


मम my, अर्थेषु in my objective, यतमानः while he is making efforts, अयं विहङ्गमः this bird, सङ्ख्ये in battle, राक्षसेन by demon, हतः struck, दुस्त्यजान् hard to leave, प्राणान् life, त्यक्ष्यति going to give up, नूनम् surely.

Struck down by the demon in the combat on my account this bird is going to give up his life which is indeed difficult.
अयमस्य शरीरेऽस्मिन्प्राणो लक्ष्मण विद्यते।

तथा हि स्वरहीनोऽयं विक्लबस्समुदीक्ष्यते।।3.68.3।।


लक्ष्मण Lakshmana, अस्य his, अस्मिन् शरीरे in this body, प्राणः life, (अतिखिन्नः suffering from intense pain), विद्यते appears, तथा हि like that, अयम् he, स्वरहीनः faint voice, विक्लबः frightened, समुदीक्ष्यते feeling excruciating pain.

O Lakshmana, it appears he is frightened and is experiencing excruciating pain in the body. His voice sounds faint, too.
जटायो यदि शक्नोषि वाक्यं व्याहरितुं पुनः।

सीतामाख्याहि भद्रं ते वधमाख्याहि चात्मनः।।3.68.4।।


जटायो Jatayu, पुनः again, व्याहरितुम् to speak, शक्नोषि यदि if you are able, ते भद्रम् be blessed, सीताम् about Sita, अख्याहि tell, आत्मनः yourself, वधम् striking, आख्याहि tell.

O Jatayu If you are still able to speak, tell me about Sita and about how you have been struck down.
किं निमित्तोऽहरत्सीतां रावणस्तस्य किं मया।

अपराद्धं तु यं दृष्ट्वा रावणेन हृता प्रिया।।3.68.5।।


रावणः Ravana, किं निमित्तः for what reason, सीताम् Sita, अहरत् abducted, मया by me, तस्य his, किम् what, अपराद्धम् crime, यम् which, दृष्ट्वा seeing, प्रिया beloved, हृता taken?

Why did Ravana abduct Sita? What fault did he find with me so that he kidnapped my beloved ?
कथं तच्चन्द्रसङ्काशं मुखमासीन्मनोहरम्।

सीतया कानि चोक्तानि तस्मिन्काले द्विजोत्तम।।3.68.6।।


द्विजोत्तम best of birds, चन्द्रसङ्काशम् Moon like, मनोहरम् delightful, तत् मुखम् her face, कथम् how, आसीत् it was, तस्मिन् काले at the time of abduction, सीतया by Sita, कानि what, उक्तानि did she say?

O best of birds how did her delightful, Moonlike face look when she was hijacked. What did she say at that time?
कथं वीर्यः कथं रूपः किं कर्मा स च राक्षसः।

क्व चास्य भवनं तात ब्रूहि मे परिपृच्छतः।।3.68.7।।


सः राक्षसः the demon, कथं वीर्यः how powerful, कथं रूपः how did he look, किं कर्मा what he does, अस्य his, भवनं च mansion also, क्व च where, तात dear, परिपृच्छतः I am asking you, मे to me, ब्रूहि please tell.

O father how powerful is that demon ? How does he look?What work does he do? Where does he dwell? Do answer my questions?
तमुद्वीक्ष्याथ दीनात्मा विलपन्तमनन्तरम्।

वाचातिसन्नया रामं जटायुरिदमब्रवीत्।।3.68.8।।


अनन्तरम् incessantly, दीनात्मा a piteous soul, जटायुः Jatayu, विलपन्तम् wailing, रामम् to Rama, उद्वीक्ष्य seeing, अथ this, अतिसन्नया in a faint voice, वाचा spoke, इदम् these, अब्रवीत् said.

Thereafter Jatayu, a piteous soul, looked up at Rama who was crying incessantly and said this in a feeble voice:
हृता सा राक्षसेन्द्रेण रावणेन विहायसा।

मायामास्थाय विपुलां वातदुर्दिनसङ्कुलाम्।।3.68.9।।


सा she, राक्षसेन्द्रेण by the lord of demons, रावणेन by Ravana, वातदुर्दिनसङ्कुलाम् violent wind, विपुलाम् huge, मायाम् magic, आस्थाय creating, विहायसा in the sky, हृता taken away.

Ravana, the lord of the demons created violent winds through terrific magic and whisked her away in the sky.
परिश्रान्तस्य मे तात पक्षौ छित्वा स राक्षसः।

सीतामादाय वैदेहीं प्रयातो दक्षिणां दिशम्।।3.68.10।।


तात O my child, सः राक्षसः that demon, परिश्रान्तस्य when I was exhausted, मे myself, पक्षौ wings, छित्त्वा after cutting, वैदेहीम् princess of Videha, सीताम् Sita, आदाय taking,दक्षिणां दिशम् southern, प्रयातः went.

O my child when I was exhausted, that demon cut off my wings and carried Sita off in the southern direction.
उपरुध्यन्ति मे प्राणा दृष्टिर्भ्रमति राघव।

पश्यामि वृक्षान्सौवर्णानुशीरकृतमूर्धजान्।।3.68.11।।


राघव Rama, मे my, प्राणाः life, उपरुध्यन्ति obstructing, दृष्टिः sight, भ्रमति is reeling, अनुशीरकृतमूर्धजान् root hair grown on tops, सौवर्णान् golden , वृक्षान् trees, पश्यामि I see.

O scion of the Raghu race, I am gasping for breath. My eyes are reeling. I see root hair growing on the tops of golden trees.
येन याति मुहूर्तेन सीतामादाय रावणः।

विप्रणष्टं धनं क्षिप्रं तत्स्वामी प्रतिपद्यते।।3.68.12।।

विन्दो नाम मुहूर्तोऽयं स च काकुत्स्थ नाबुधत्।


काकुत्स्थ O Rama, रावणः Ravana, येन मुहूर्तेन by such moment, सीताम् Sita, आदाय taking, याति he, अयम् this, विन्द: Vinda, नाम by name, मुहूर्तः time, विनष्टम् lost, धनम् wealth, तत्स्वामी that person, क्षिप्रम् quickly, प्रतिपद्यते will obtain, सः च and he, नाबुधत् did not know.

The time Ravana kidnapped Sita is known as 'Vinda'. The effect (of that time), is that her husband will regain his lost wealth. O scion of the Kakutstha race he (Ravana )did not know it.
त्वत्प्रियां जानकीं हृत्वा रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः।।3.68.13।।

झषवद्बडिशं गृह्य क्षिप्रमेव विनश्यति।


राक्षसेश्वरः lord of the demons, रावणः Ravana, त्वत्प्रियाम् your beloved, जानकीम् Janaki, हृत्वा after carrying away, बडिशम् fish hook, गृह्य having picked up, झषवत् like the fish, क्षिप्रमेव quickly, विनश्यति will be destroyed.

Ravana, king of the demons, will perish soon for running away with your beloved Janaki just like a fish carrying away a fishhook (which causes its destruction).
न च त्वया व्यथा कार्या जनकस्य सुतां प्रति।।3.68.14।।

वैदेह्या रंस्यसे क्षिप्रं हत्वा तं राक्षसं रणे।


त्वया by you, जनकस्य सुतां Janaka's daughter, प्रति with regard to, व्यथा worry, न कार्या need not be, रणे in battle, तं राक्षसम् that demon, क्षिप्रम् soon, हत्वा having slain, वैदेह्या with Vaidehi, रंस्यसे will sport.

You need not worry about Janaka's daughter. You will soon enjoy the company of your beloved, Vaidehi after killing that demon.
असम्मूढस्य गृध्रस्य रामं प्रत्यनुभाषतः।।3.68.15।।

आस्यात्सुस्राव रुधिरं म्रियमाणस्य सामिषम्।


रामं प्रति with Rama, अनुभाषतः conversing, असम्मूढस्य of the bird that was not deluded, म्रियमाणस्य while dying, गृध्रस्य vulture's, आस्यात् from his mouth, सामिषम् mixed with flesh, रुधिरम् blood, सुस्राव dripped.

As he(Jatayu) was speaking to Rama with an alert mind even while dying, blood mixed with flesh started oozing from Jatayu's mouth.
पुत्रो विश्रवसस्साक्षाद्भ्राता वैश्रवणस्य च।।3.68.16।।

इत्युक्त्वा दुर्लभान्प्राणान्मुमोच पतगेश्वरः।


विश्रवसः Visrava's, पुत्रः son, वैश्रवणस्य साक्षात् Vaisravana's lawful, भ्राता brother, इति thus,
उक्त्वा said, पतगेश्वरः Jatayu, the king of birds, दुर्लभान् rare, प्राणान् life, मुमोच gave up.

Ravana was Visrava's son and Vaisravana's (Kubera's) brother, said Jatayu and gave up his rare life.
ब्रूहि ब्रूहीति रामस्य ब्रुवाणस्य कृताञ्जलेः।।3.68.17।।

त्वक्त्वा शरीरं गृध्रस्य जग्मुः प्राणा विहायसम्।


कृताञ्जलेः waiting with folded palms, रामस्य Rama's, ब्रुहि ब्रुहि इति saying 'tell me, tell me', ब्रुवाणस्य as he spoke so, गृध्रस्य of the vulture, प्राणाः life, शरीरम् body, त्वक्त्वा after leaving, विहायसम् to the sky, जग्मुः went.

As Rama was saying to the vulture with folded palms 'Tell me, tell me'( about Ravana) the life breath of the vulture soared into the sky leaving the body.
स निक्षिप्य शिरो भूमौ प्रसार्य चरणौ तदा।।3.68.18।।

विक्षिप्य च शरीरं स्वं पपात धरणीतले।


सः Jatayu, तदा then, शिरः head, भूमौ on the ground, निक्षिप्य after throwing, चरणौ feet, प्रसार्य stretching, स्वम् his, शरीरम् body, धरणीतले on the ground, विक्षिप्य scattering, पपात fallen down.

Then Jatayu dropped his head down, his feet thrown about, his body outstretched on earth.
तं गृध्रं प्रेक्ष्य ताम्राक्षं गतासुमचलोपमम्।।3.68.19।।

रामस्सुबहुभिर्दुःखैर्दीनस्सौमित्रिमब्रवीत्।


सुबहुभिः with much, दुःखै: with sorrow, दीनः dejected, रामः Rama, ताम्राक्षम् eyes red (with tears), गतासुम् with his life gone, अचलोपमम् looking like a mountain, तं गृध्रम् to that vulture, प्रेक्ष्य seeing, सौमित्रिम् to Lakshmana, अब्रवीत् said.

Stricken with deep grief, his eyes red (with tears) Rama saw the vulture looking like a mountain. Seeing him dead, he said to Lakshmana:
बहूनि रक्षसां वासे वर्षाणि वसता सुखम्।।3.68.20।।

अनेन दण्डकारण्ये विशीर्णमिह पक्षिणा।


रक्षसाम् the demon's, वासे dwellingplace, इह here, दण्डकारण्ये Dandaka forest, सुखम् happily, बहूनि many, वर्षाणि years, वसता living, अनेन by this, पक्षिणा by the bird, विशीर्णम् lost life.

Dwelling for many years happily in Dandaka forest, the abode of demons, the bird lost his life (on our account).
अनेकवार्षिको यस्तु चिरकालसमुत्थितः।।3.68.21।।

सोऽयमद्य हतश्शेते कालो हि दुरतिक्रमः।


अनेकवार्षिकः many years old, यः he, चिरकालसमुत्थितः lived for a long time, सः अयम् this Jatayu, अद्य now, हतः dead, शेते lying down, कालः time (fate), दुरतिक्रमः हि not possible to escape.

This Jatayu, who lived for long years, is lying dead now. (The dictate of) destiny is inescapable.
पश्य लक्ष्मण गृध्रोऽयमुपकारी हतश्च मे।।3.68.22।।

सीतामभ्यवपन्नो वै रावणेन बलीयसा।


लक्ष्मण O Lakshmana, सीताम् Sita, अभ्यवपन्नः he reached out for help, मे उपकारी my wellwisher, अयं गृध्रः this vulture, बलीयसा by the powerful, रावणेन by Ravana, हतः is killed, पश्य see.

O Lakshmana, see this Jatayu, my benefactor, killed by the powerful Ravana while he was reaching out to help Sita.
गृध्रराज्यं परित्यज्य पितृपैतामहं महत्।।3.68.23।।

मम हेतोरयं प्राणान्मुमोच पतगेश्वरः।


अयं पतगेश्वरः this lord of the birds, पितृपैतामहम् ancestral, महत् great, गृध्रराज्यम् kingdom of vultures, परित्यज्य left, मम हेतोः for my sake, प्राणान् life, मुमोच gave up.

This lord of the birds left his ancestral kingdom of viltures and gave up life for my sake.
सर्वत्र खलु दृश्यन्ते साधवो धर्मचारिणः।।3.68.24।।

शूराश्शरण्यास्सौमित्रे तिर्यग्योनिगतेष्वपि।


सौमित्रे Lakshmana, शूराः heroes, शरण्याः protectors, धर्मचारिणः rigteous people, साधवः good people, सर्वत्र all over, तिर्यग्योनिगतेष्वपि even among animals and birds, दृश्यन्ते खलु are seen.

O Lakshmana valiant souls and protectors, being righteous and honest are found even among animals and birds.
सीताहरणजं दुःखं न मे सौम्य तथाविधम्।।3.68.25।।

यथा विनाशे गृध्रस्य मत्कृते च परन्तप।


परन्तप O scorcher of enemies, सौम्य handsome one, गृध्रस्य bird's, विनाशे at his death, मत्कृते च for my sake, यथा as, सीताहरणजम् caused by the abduction of Sita, दुःखम् grief, तथाविधम् in that way, न not experienced.

O scorcher of enemies, O handsome Lakshmana the grief I experience due to Jatayu's death on my account is more intense than Sita's abduction.
राजा दशरथश्श्रीमान्यथा मम महायशाः।।3.68.26।।

पूजनीयश्च मान्यश्च तथाऽयं पतगेश्वरः।


महायशाः illustrious, श्रीमान् prosperous, राजा king, दशरथः Dasaratha, मम for me, यथा as, पूजनीयश्च worthy of reverence, मान्यश्च worthy of honour, अयम् this, पतगेश्वरः lord of the birds, तथा in the same way.

This lord of the birds for me is as worthy of reverence and honour as the famous and prosperous king Dasaratha.
सौमित्रे हर काष्ठानि निर्मथिष्यामि पावकम्।।3.68.27।।

गृध्रराजं दिधक्षामि मत्कृते निधनं गतम्।


सौमित्रे Saumitri, काष्ठानि firewood, हर fetch, पावकम् fire, निर्मथिष्यामि I will rub, मत्कृते for my sake, निधनम् गतम् died, गृध्रराजम् king of the birds, दिधक्षामि I wish to burn.

O Saumitri fetch firewood. I shall generate fire by rubbing them and cremate the king of the birds who has laid down his life for my sake.
नाथं पतगलोकस्य चितामारोप्य राघव।।3.68.28।।

इमं धक्ष्यामि सौमित्रे हतं रौद्रेण रक्षसा।


राघव O scion of the Raghu race, सौमित्रे Saumitri, रौद्रेण by the fierce, रक्षसा demon, हतम् killed, इमम् this, पतगलोकस्य नाथम् lord of the world of birds, चिताम् funeral pyre, आरोप्य placing, धक्ष्यामि I will cremate with honour.

O scion of the Raghus I will place the body of the lord of the world of birds, killed by the fierce demon, on the funeral pyre and crimate him with honour.
या गतिर्यज्ञशीलानामाहिताग्नेश्च या गतिः।।3.68.29।।

अपरावर्तिनां या च या च भूमिप्रदायिनाम्।

मया त्वं समनुज्ञातो गच्छ लोकाननुत्तमान्।।3.68.30।।

गृध्रराज महासत्त्व संस्कृतश्च मया व्रज।


महासत्त्व very strong, गृध्रराज king of the birds, मया by me, समनुज्ञातः permitted, त्वम् you, यज्ञशीलानाम of those who perform sacrifices, या such, गतिः resort, आहिताग्नेश्च for him who kindles sacrificial fires, या गतिः attainment, अपरावर्तिनाम् of those who beat no retreat (from battle), या च and such state, भूमिप्रदायिनाम् for those who offer land in charity, या च that state, गच्छ go, मया by me, संस्कृतः च purified, अनुत्तमान् best of, लोकान् worlds, व्रज depart.

O mighty lord of the birds by my grace attain the state of those who perform sacrifices, who kindle and maintain sacrificial fires, who beat no retreat from the battlefield and who offer land in charity. Purified by my offering of fire, you may depart for the best of the worlds.
एवमुक्त्वा चितां दीप्तामारोप्य पतगेश्वरम्।।3.68.31।।

ददाह रामो धर्मात्मा स्वबन्धुमिव दुःखितः।


धर्मात्मा righteous, रामः Rama, एवम् in that way, उक्त्वा having said, पतगेश्वरम् lord of birds, चिताम् on the pyre, आरोप्य having laid, दुःखितः sorrowful, स्वबन्धुमिव like his own relation, ददाह cremated.

Thus said, righteous Rama laid him on the pyre and sadly cremated the lord of the birds as one would do to his own relative.
रामोऽथ सहसौमित्रिर्वनं गत्वा स वीर्यवान्।।3.68.32।।

स्थूलान्हत्वा महारोहीननुतस्तार तं द्विजम्।


अथ then, वीर्यवान् mighty, रामः Rama, सहसौमित्रिः with Saumitri, वनम् forest, गत्वा after going, स्थूलान् large, महारोहीन् stately deer, हत्वा killed, तं द्विजम् to that bird (Jatayu), अनुतस्तार spread it as offering.

Then the mighty Rama, accompanied by Saumitri, got into the forest and killed a huge
deer, brought it and spread it as an offering (to the dead Jatayu).
रोहिमांसानि चोत्कृत्य पेशीकृत्य महायशाः।।3.68.33।।

शकुनाय ददौ रामो रम्ये हरितशाद्वले।


महायशाः famed, रामः Rama, रोहिमांसानि flesh of the deer, उत्कृत्य cutting to pieces, पेशीकृत्य making into balls, रम्ये in a lovely, हरितशाद्वले green, grassy land, शकुनाय the bird Jatayu, ददौ offered.

Tearing the flesh of the deer to pieces and making them into balls, the celebrated Rama laid it on a lovely, green grassy land as offering to the bird.
यत्तत्प्रेतस्य मर्त्यस्य कथयन्ति द्विजातयः।।3.68.34।।

तत्स्वर्गगमनं तस्य पित्र्यं रामो जजाप ह।


तत् that, यत् whatever, द्विजातयः brahmins, प्रेतस्य for the dead, मर्त्यस्य for a mortal, स्वर्गगमनम् for ascending to heaven, कथयन्ति they utter, तत् all that, पित्र्यम् pertaining to father, तस्य that, जजाप muttered.

Rama muttered the mantras recommended by brahmins for dead mortals as one would do for his father, to help him ascend to heaven.
ततो गोदावरीं गत्वा नदीं नरवरात्मजौ।।3.68.35।।

उदकं चक्रतुस्तस्मै गृध्रराजाय तावुभौ।


ततः then, उभौ तौ they both, नरवरात्मजौ two princes, गोदावरीं नदीम् to river Godavari, गत्वा after reaching, तस्मै for him, गृद्रराजाय for the vultureking, उदकम् libations, चक्रतुः offered.

Then both the princes went down to river Godavari and offered libations for the king of vultures.
शास्त्रदृष्टेन विधिना जले गृध्राय राघवौ।।3.68.36।।

स्नात्वा तौ गृध्रराजाय उदकं चक्रतुस्तदा।


तदा thereafter, (तौ) राघवौ both scions of the Raghu dynasty, शास्त्रदृष्टेन as ordained in scriptures, विधिना duly, गृध्राय for the vulture, जले in water, स्नात्वा bathing, गृध्रराजाय to the king of vultures, उदकम् water, चक्रतुः offered.

Thereafter both the scions of the Raghu dynasty bathed in water, offered libations for the king of vultures as ordained in the scriptures.
स गृध्रराजः कृतवान्यशस्करं सुदुष्करं कर्म रणे निपातितः।

महर्षिकल्पेन च संस्कृतस्तदा जगाम पुण्यां गतिमात्मनश्शुभाम्।।3.68.37।।


रणे in battle, सुदुष्करम् very difficult feat, यशस्करम् glorious, कर्म deed, कृतवान् done, निपातितः was made to fall, सः गृध्रराजः that lord of the vultures, तदा then, महर्षिकल्पेन following the prescription of sages, संस्कृतः sanctified, पुण्याम् holy, शुभाम् auspicious, आत्मनः his, गतिम् state, जगाम reached.

The king of vultures had performed a very difficult and glorious feat by laying down his life fighting. Sanctified by Rama's offering as laid down in scriptures by the seers, he attained a holy, auspicious and divine state of the self.
कृतोदकौ तावपि पक्षिसत्तमे स्थिरां च बुद्धिं प्रणिधाय जग्मतुः।

प्रवेश्य सीताधिगमे ततो मनो वनं सुरेन्द्रविव विष्णुवासवौ।।3.68.38।।


तौ अपि they both, कृतोदकौ offering libation, पक्षिसत्तमे to the great bird, स्थिराम् settled, बुद्धिम् mind, प्रणिधाय employing their attention, ततः then, सीताधिगमे to search Sita, मनः mind, प्रवेश्य entered , सुरेन्द्रौ like two lords of gods, विष्णुवासवाविव like Visnu and Indra, वनम् forest, जग्मतुः went.

Rama and Lakshmana, like two lords of gods, Indra and Visnu, offered libations for the great bird with their settled minds and concentrated and then entered deeper into the forest turning their attention to the search for Sita.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे अष्टषष्टितमस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the sixtyeighth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.