Jatayu

1. 3.68. Book 3, Canto 68: Jatáyus

   3.68.1After Sita is taken, Lakshmana comforts Rama with wise advice. Rama listens, controls his strong grief and anger, and, leaning on his bow, asks Lakshmana where they should search next and how to find her.
2. 3.68.2Lakshmana answers his tired, grieving brother: even if their search has failed so far, they should search the dangerous Janasthan forest again.
3. 3.68.3Lakshmana describes the land: deep caves, cliffs and dark pits, home to animals and to heavenly beings like Gandharvas (celestial musicians) and Kinnaras (forest spirits).
4. 3.68.4Lakshmana says they should search every hill and cave together. He tells Rama that great people like him, wise and sharp-sighted, do not give up in hard times, but stand firm like mountains in a storm.
5. 3.68.5Angry, Rama readies an arrow and searches the forest with Lakshmana. They find Jatayu, the great vulture, lying bloody on the ground, as huge as a broken mountain peak. Rama looks at him in rage.
6. 3.68.6Rama wrongly decides that the vulture is a demon in disguise who has eaten Sita. He vows to shoot it.
7. 3.68.7Rama rushes at the bird with his arrow ready, his steps shaking the earth. The dying Jatayu, with blood on his beak, tries to speak to Rama, son of King Dasharatha.
8. 3.68.8Jatayu tells Rama that the lady he is searching for has been taken by the fierce demon king Ravana, who has also given Jatayu his fatal wound. It happened when Rama and Lakshmana had both left Sita unprotected.
9. 3.68.9Jatayu says he saw Ravana carrying Sita away and rushed to help her. He smashed Ravana's chariot and royal umbrella and knocked Ravana to the ground.
10. 3.68.10Jatayu, the dying old vulture, points out the proof of his fight with Ravana, the demon king: the broken bow, the arrows, the smashed chariot, and the driver he struck down with his wings.
11. 3.68.11Jatayu explains that he grew tired because he was old, and Ravana cut off his wings with a sword and flew away with Sita through the sky. He asks Rama not to attack him, since he is already dying from Ravana's blow.
12. 3.68.12When Rama hears how bravely Jatayu fought for Sita, he puts down his bow and hugs the bird gently. Then Rama falls to the ground, and both brothers cry, because Rama feels two sorrows at once: losing Sita and seeing his friend dying.
13. 3.68.13Rama looks at the lonely, gasping bird in the forest, and as his sorrow rises again, he speaks to his brother Lakshmana.
14. 3.68.14Rama says he has lost his kingdom, his wife is gone, and now the bird is dying. He feels so unlucky that even the ocean would dry up if he tried to cool off in it.
15. 3.68.15Rama says no one in the world is as unlucky as he is, caught in a net of misery. Even Jatayu, the best of birds and a friend loved by his father King Dasharatha, now lies dying because of Rama's troubles.
16. 3.68.16Rama and Lakshmana mourn the bird with pity and stroke his body as if he were their own father. Rama holds the blood-covered bird close to his chest.
17. 3.68.17Rama falls down crying many tears and calls out, asking where his beloved wife Sita, dearer to him than life, has gone.

18. 3.69. Book 3, Canto 69: The Death Of Jatáyus

    3.69.1Looking at the vulture killed by the demon, Rama feels deep pain and speaks lovingly to his brother Lakshmana.
19. 3.69.2Rama tells Lakshmana that this loyal bird fought for him and is giving his life for him. He points out the bleeding wounds and says the bird will soon die.
20. 3.69.3Rama sees Jatayu is too weak to speak or lift his eyes. He begs him, if he still can, to tell what happened to Sita and how he was hurt.
21. 3.69.4Rama asks why Ravana stole his wife and what wrong Rama did to deserve it. He also asks how Sita looked and what she said.
22. 3.69.5Rama asks Jatayu to tell him about Ravana's strength, his deeds, what form he takes, and where he lives.
23. 3.69.6Jatayu looks at the grieving Rama and, in a weak voice, says that Ravana, king of the demons, stole Sita from Rama's home.
24. 3.69.7Jatayu says Ravana used magic to create wind, clouds and darkness. When Jatayu grew tired, Ravana cut his wings, grabbed Sita, and flew south.
25. 3.69.8Jatayu says he is gasping and his eyesight is fading; he sees visions of golden trees as he dies. But he says the time Ravana chose for his crime will bring Ravana great trouble.
26. 3.69.9Jatayu explains that Ravana stole Sita at a special hour called Vinda, when anything stolen is always recovered by its owner. Like a fish that bites the bait, Ravana will soon meet his end.
27. 3.69.10Jatayu tells Rama to calm his heart and stop grieving, because Rama will kill Ravana in battle and be happy with Sita again.
28. 3.69.11Still clear in mind despite his pain, Jatayu says Ravana is the son of the sage Vishravas and brother of Kubera, the Lord of Wealth. Then, bleeding, he takes his last breath.
29. 3.69.12Rama joins his palms in respect and begs Jatayu to speak again, but the bird's spirit has already left for heaven, and his body lies still on the ground.
30. 3.69.13Rama looks at the dead vulture Jatayu, huge as a hill, and in deep sorrow speaks to his brother Lakshmana. He says this bird lived happily in this wild forest for many years.
31. 3.69.14Rama says Jatayu lived for many peaceful years in the Dandaka forest, a place full of demons, and now he has died there. No one can escape what fate decides.
32. 3.69.15Rama tells Lakshmana that Jatayu died fighting bravely for him, trying to rescue Sita from the demon Ravana. The king of the vultures gave up his life for Rama's sake, even though he lost the fight.
33. 3.69.16Rama says that even among animals we often find great, good souls who follow what is right and protect the weak. He says that seeing this bird dead hurts him even more than losing Sita.
34. 3.69.17Rama says Jatayu was as honored and loved as his own father, King Dasharatha. He asks Lakshmana to bring wood, because he will light the funeral fire himself and lay the bird on it.
35. 3.69.18Rama says he will burn the body of the king of birds with full honor. He prays that Jatayu, the noble-hearted bird, will go to heaven as a reward for his faithful love.
36. 3.69.19Rama blesses Jatayu to live happily in heaven among those who worshipped faithfully, the brave who never gave up, and the generous who gave land to others.
37. 3.69.20With a heavy heart, Rama lays Jatayu on the funeral pyre and lights the fire to burn his friend's body. Then Rama and Lakshmana go on into the forest.
38. 3.69.23Jatayu, after his brave deed and honored by Rama, rises to heaven. After finishing all the funeral rites, the brothers feel some comfort and leave the river.
39. 3.69.24The two brothers, looking like gods, walk on through the forest. Each of them thinks about how to find the one who kidnapped Sita.