Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 56
Book IV : Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Vanaras
Contents
Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 56 in English
Chapter [Sarga] 56 - Sampaati hears of Jataayu's death
Introduction - Sampati hears about Jatayu's death when Angada cites it while lamenting for their misfortune. He praises that Jatayu is better off than the vanara-s for he encountered Ravana and attained martyrdom. On listening his brother's name and news of his death, Sampati, who firstly wanted to gluttonise all the vanara-s, seeks their help to lower him down from mountain heights, to listen more of his brother Jatayu.
1, 2. At which mountain's tableland those vanaras sat down for self-immolation, to that area the elder brother of Jatayu, a kingly eagle known as Sampaati by name, one renowned one for his forcefulness and aggressiveness, and a celebrated and sempiternal sky-flying eagle has arrived. [4-56-1, 2]
3. On coming out of the cave of the great-mountain Vindhya, Sampaati is gladden at heart to see the vanaras sitting down there, and he spoke these words. [4-56-3]
4. Whether it is good or bad, fate indeed follows humans in this world procedurally, why because, this fated and long-waited food has now come nigh of me... [4-56-4]
5. I wish to eat them frugally, killing one by one and eating one by one, preying on one on one day, and then preying upon the other on the other day..." thus that bird spoke those words on seeing the massy fly-jumpers. [4-56-5]
Here some translate this as 'I wish to eat the one by one as and when that monkey falls dead, then the next, on its falling dead...' In such a case, Angada would not have bothered or feared for this eagle, because it wants to vulture upon a cadaver. No need to fear if death occurs prior to their becoming prey to Sampaati. He feared to become the prey of eagle, whereby their sacred immolation is also going to fail along with other failures like searching Seetha, transgressing timeframe, hiding in Black Hole etc. Besides, a vulture is the most unpredictable bird, if it comes to it food.
6. On hearing the words of that gormandising bird, Angada became highly breathless and then spoke to Hanuman. [4-56-6]
7. Look! In the name of an eagle, the son of the Sun, Yama, the Terminator, has manifestly arrived at this area for the fatality of vanaras.. thus ill luck is still haunting us... [4-56-7]
Some mms have the name of Seetha compared to Yama, saying that Yama come in the name of Seetha, while some say it is Sampaati. Here Sampaati is taken as the manifestation of Death, rather than Seetha.
8. We fulfilled neither Rama's task, nor the decree of our king, but this unknown catastrophe has abruptly bechanced for the vanaras... [4-56-8]
9. You all have heard in its entirety what deed the kingly Jataayu has done wishing to do good to Vaidehi... [4-56-9]
10. Like that all beings, even those birthed in animality, are doing what that is agreeable to Rama even on forgoing their own lives, as with us... [4-56-10]
11. Even animals will be mutually succouring by their instinct of concern and camaraderie, therefore, let each of us leave off our souls, soulfully... [4-56-11]
12, 13a. Conscientious Jataayu has done a deed much liked by Rama, and we too have been trekking the forests without caring even for our lives in the cause of Rama, but we have not seen Maithili... [4-56-12, 13a]
13b, 13c. He that kingly eagle Jataayu who is killed by Ravana is a happy soul, and he is even relieved from the fear of Sugreeva as he departed on the Avenue of Sublimity... [4-56-13b, c]
Sugreeva is not only the sovereign of monkeys but to all animal worlds also, and even to all birds of Aves kingdom, nidificatis aves, apes, oves... as Virgil would say. So slain by Ravana, Jataayu is absolved of sin and fear of Sugreeva, as well. Maheshvara Tiirtha.
14. By the ending of Jataayu and by the end of Dasharatha, also by the purloin of Vaidehi, all of the vanaras are piled into a predicament... [4-56-14]
Vividly: 'If Jataayu is not killed Seetha would not be abducted, even if Seetha is abducted, should Jataayu be living he might have detailed that abduction, and Rama might not have come to Kishkindha, but would have gone to Lanka straightaway. At least, if Dasharatha is not dead he would have called Rama and others back to Ayodhya, thus the question of Seetha's abduction does not arise. Because these two are dead, Seetha is abducted and their deaths became a deadly predicament for us... the vanaras...'
15, 16. Just by giving boons to Kaikeyi, the quandaries like Rama's dwelling in forests along with Seetha and Lakshmana, as a result Rama's fury eliminating complete demons of Janasthaana, and as a result Raghava's arrow exterminating Val, have come to pass." Thus Angada is lamenting. [4-56-15,16]
17. On observing the vanaras who lay recumbent on ground and on hearing them eulogising the death of Jataayu he that king of eagles Sampaati is highly perturbed at that uncomfortable information about Jatayu, and that high minded Sampaati sorrowfully spelled out this word. [4-56-17]
Some versions of Valmiki Ramayana end this chapter with this verse and continue next verses in the next chapter.
18. That shredder-billed eagle Sampaati said this sentence voicing thunderously on hearing words voiced by Angada. [4-56-18]
19. Who speaks to announce as though to quake my heart that Jatayu, the more precious brother of mine than my own lives, is slain? [4-56-19]
20. How a combat occasioned between that eagle and a demon in Janasthaana, and how am I hearing this name of my brother after a long time... [4-56-20]
21, 22a. I wish you to get me down from these mountain soars. After a long time I have heard about my younger brother who is straightforward, praiseworthy for his valour, and I am glad that too spoke of him praisefully... [4-56-21, 22a]
22b, 23a. Thereby, oh, best vanara-s, I wish to listen about the death of my brother Jataayu when he was in Janasthaana... [4-56-22b, 23a]
23b, 24a. Whose eldest and dear son is Rama, the creditable one for doyens, that Dasharatha is the friend of my brother Jatayu/ But how did Dasharatha pass away? [4-56-23b, 24a]
24b, c. I am incapable to spread my wings widely as they are burnt by Sun's rays, hence oh, enemy-chasteners, I wish you to lower me down from this mountain..." Thus Sampati sought for the help of vanaras. [4-56-24b, c]
श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे किष्किन्धाकाण्डे षट्पञ्चाशः सर्गः ॥४-५६॥
उपविष्टाः तु ते सर्वे यस्मिन् प्रायम् गिरि स्थले ।
हरयो गृध्र राजः च तम् देशम् उपचक्रमे ॥४-५६-१॥
सांपातिः नाम नाम्ना तु चिर जीवी विहंगमः ।
भ्राता जटायुषः श्रीमान् प्रख्यात बल पौरुषः ॥४-५६-२॥
कंदरात् अभिनिष्क्रम्य स विन्ध्यस्य महागिरेः ।
उपविष्टान् हरीन् दृष्ट्वा हृष्टात्मा गिरम् अब्रवीत् ॥४-५६-३॥
विधिः किल नरम् लोके विधानेन अनुवर्तते ।
यथा अयम् विहितो भक्ष्यः चिरात् मह्यम् उपागतः ॥४-५६-४॥
परंपराणाम् भक्षिष्ये वानराणाम् मृतम् मृतम् ।
उवाच एतत् वचः पक्षी तान् निरीक्ष्य प्लवंगमान् ॥४-५६-५॥
तस्य तत् वचनम् श्रुत्वा भक्ष लुब्धस्य पक्षिणः ।
अंगदः परम् आयस्तो हनूमंतम् अथ अब्रवीत् ॥४-५६-६॥
पश्य सीता - गृध्रा - अपदेशेन साक्षात् वैवस्वतो यमः ।
इमम् देशम् अनुप्राप्तो वानराणाम् विपत्तये ॥४-५६-७॥
रामस्य न कृतम् कार्यम् न कृतम् राज शाशनम् ।
हरीणाम् इयम् अज्ञाता विपत्तिः सहसा आगता ॥४-५६-८॥
वैदेह्याः प्रिय कामेन कृतम् कर्म जटायुषा ।
गृध्र राजेन यत् तत्र श्रुतम् वः तत् अशेषतः ॥४-५६-९॥
तथा सर्वाणि भूतानि तिर्यक् योनि गतानि अपि ।
प्रियम् कुर्वन्ति रामस्य त्यक्त्वा प्राणान् यथा वयम् ॥४-५६-१०॥
अन्योन्यम् उपकुर्वन्ति स्नेह कारुण्य यन्त्रिताः ।
ततः तस्य उपकार अर्थम् त्यजत आत्मानम् आत्मना ॥४-५६-११॥
प्रियम् कृत्वा हि रामस्य धर्मज्ञेन जटायुषा ।
राघव अर्थे परिश्रान्ता वयम् संत्यक्त जीविताः ॥४-५६-१२॥
कांताराणि प्रपन्नाः स्म न च पश्याम मैथिलीम् ।
स सुखी गृध्र राजः तु रावणेन हतो रणे ।
मुक्तः च सुग्रीव भयात् गतः च परमाम् गतिम् ॥४-५६-१३॥
जटायुषो विनाशेन राज्ञो दशरथस्य च ।
हरणेन च वैदेह्याः संशयम् हरयो गताः ॥४-५६-१४॥
राम लक्ष्मणयोः वासाम् अरण्ये सह सीतया ।
राघवस्य च बाणेन वालिनः च तथा वधः ॥४-५६-१५॥
राम कोपात् अशेषाणाम् राक्षसाम् च तथा वधम् ।
कैकेय्या वर दानेन इदम् च विकृतम् कृतम् ॥४-५६-१६॥
तत् असुखम् अनुकीर्तितम् वचो
भुवि पतितान् च निरीक्ष्य वानरान् ।
भृश चकित मतिः महामतिः
कृपणम् उदाहृतवान् स गृध्रराजः ॥४-५६-१७॥
तत् तु श्रुत्वा तदा वाक्यम् अंगदस्य मुख उद्गतम् ।
अब्रवीत् वचनम् गृध्रः तीक्ष्ण तुण्डो महास्वनः ॥४-५६-१८॥
को अयम् गिरा घोषयति प्राणैः प्रियतरस्य मे ।
जटायुषो वधम् भ्रातुः कंपयन् इव मे मनः ॥४-५६-१९॥
कथम् आसीत् जनस्थाने युद्धम् राक्षस गृध्रयोः ।
नामधेयम् इदम् भ्रातुः चिरस्य अद्य मया श्रुतम् ॥४-५६-२०॥
इच्छेयम् गिरि दुर्गात् च भवद्भिः अवतारितुम् ।
यवीयसो गुणज्ञस्य श्लाघनीयस्य विक्रमैः ॥४-५६-२१॥
अति दीर्घस्य कालस्य परितुष्टो अस्मि कीर्तितनात् ।
तत् इच्छेयम् अहम् श्रोतुम् विनाशम् वानर ऋषभाः ॥४-५६-२२॥
भ्रातुः जटायुषः तस्य जनस्थान निवासिनः ।
तस्य एव च मम भ्रातुः सखा दशरथः कथम् ॥४-५६-२३॥
यस्य रामः प्रियः पुत्रो ज्येष्ठो गुरु जन प्रियः ।
सूर्य अंशु दग्ध पक्षत्वात् न शक्नोमि विसर्पितुम् ।
इच्छेयम् पर्वतात् अस्मात् अवतर्तुम् अरिन्दमाः ॥४-५६-२४॥
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये किष्किन्धाकाण्डे षट्पञ्चाशः सर्गः ॥४-५६॥
References
External links
- Sampaati hears of Jataayu's death
- http://www.geocities.com/bhagvatjee/vraamaayan/kathaa/4vkish/27sarg56.htm
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