After offering fragrant flowers and performing the prescribed rites of peace, Lakshmana respectfully showed Rama the hermitage he had built. When Rama, accompanied by Sita, beheld that beautiful leaf-hut fashioned by Lakshmana’s hands, his heart overflowed with joy. Together, they entered the dwelling, and Rama, deeply delighted, embraced Lakshmana with both arms. With affection and warmth, Rama spoke to him, “O noble Lakshmana, I am truly pleased with this great deed you have accomplished; it is for this reason that I have given you this embrace. One who understands the feelings of others, who is grateful, and who knows righteousness—such a son as you, my father did not have.” Having spoken these heartfelt words, Rama, the increaser of prosperity, settled happily in that fruitful place. For some time, the righteous Rama dwelled there, attended by Sita and Lakshmana, enjoying life as blissfully as a god in heaven. Now, listen to the sixteenth sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇyakāṇḍa. As Rama, the delight of the Raghu dynasty, journeyed toward Pancavati, he encountered a great-bodied vulture of terrifying strength. Seeing this mighty bird dwelling in the forest, Rama and Lakshmana, cautious and vigilant, wondered if it was a rakshasa disguised as a bird, and asked, “Who are you?” The vulture replied in a sweet and gentle voice, as if to reassure them, “My child, know me as a friend of your father.” Hearing these words, Rama honored the bird as his father’s friend and inquired about his lineage and name. The vulture, twice-born, began to recount his origin, which arose from all beings. He addressed Rama, “O mighty-armed one, in ancient times, those who were the progenitors—listen as I recount them all from the beginning. Kardama was the first, then Vikrita after him; then Shesha, Samshraya, and Bahuputra, who was powerful. Sthanu, Marichi, Atri, and mighty Kratu; Pulastya, Angiras, Prachetas, and Pulaha. Daksha, Vivasvan, Aparā, and Arishtanemi; and Kashyapa, of great splendor, was the last among them. Daksha, the progenitor, had sixty illustrious daughters, all renowned. Kashyapa accepted eight of them, slender-waisted: Aditi, Diti, Danu, Kālaka, Tāmra, Krodhavasā, Manu, and Anala. Pleased, Kashyapa spoke to his daughters, ‘You shall bear sons who will be lords of the three worlds, equal to me.’ With this intent, Aditi, Diti, and Danu, and the others, were born from the mind. From Aditi were born the thirty-three gods: the Ādityas, Vasus, Rudras, and Aśvins. Diti gave birth to sons renowned as Daityas. Naraka and Kālaka were also born, as well as Kālakā; Tāmra gave birth to five daughters: Krauñcī, Bhāsī, Śyenī, Dhṛtarāṣṭrī, and Śukī. Krauñcī bore owls, Bhāsī gave birth to herons. Śyenī gave birth to hawks and powerful vultures; Dhṛtarāṣṭrī gave birth to swans and all kinds of geese, and also chakravāka birds. Śukī bore Natā, and Natā’s daughter was Vinatā. O Rama, ten sons, born of wrath, also came forth from her own being: Mṛgī, Mṛgamandā, Harī, Bhadramadā, Mātaṅgī, Śārdūlī, Śvetā, Surabhī, Surasā, and Kadrū. All the deer were offspring of Mṛgī; from Mṛgamandā came bears, and from Sṛmarā and Camarā as well. Bhadramadā bore a daughter named Irāvatī, whose son was Airāvata, the great elephant, lord of the world. From Harī came the monkeys and ascetic vanaras; from Śārdūlī were born tailed langurs and tigers. From Mātaṅgī came elephants; Śvetā gave birth to the elephant of the quarters. Surabhī bore two daughters: Rohiṇī and the illustrious Gandharvī. Rohiṇī gave birth to cows, Gandharvī to horses. Surasā bore the serpents, and Kadrū bore the nāgas. Manu begot humans from the great-souled Kaśyapa: Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras. From his mouth were born the Brāhmaṇas, from his chest the Kṣatriyas, from his thighs the Vaiśyas, and from his feet the Śūdras, so the tradition says. Anala gave birth to all the trees bearing virtuous fruits. Vinatā, the granddaughter of Śukī, and Kadrū, the sister of Surasā, were also born. Kadrū gave birth to a thousand serpents, the earth-supporting nāgas; Vinatā had two sons, Garuḍa and Aruṇa. From Aruṇa I was born, and Sampāti is my elder brother. Know me as Jaṭāyu, the son of Śyenī, O subduer of foes.” Thus, the mighty Jaṭāyu revealed his lineage and identity to Rama, honoring their meeting in the forest.