As Rāma, the beloved son of Raghu, journeyed towards the sacred grove of Pañcavaṭī, he encountered an extraordinary sight—a great-bodied vulture of formidable strength, dwelling amidst the forest’s shadows. Both Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, seeing this mighty bird, suspected it might be a rākṣasa disguised as a vulture. Cautiously, they asked, “Who are you?” With a gentle and pleasing voice, the vulture spoke, “My child, know me as a friend of your father.” Hearing this, Rāma honored the bird, believing him to be indeed his father’s friend, and respectfully inquired about his lineage and name. The vulture, who was twice-born, began to recount his origin and the ancient lineages from which he arose. “O mighty-armed one,” he said, “listen as I tell you of those who were the progenitors from the very beginning. Kardama was the first, followed by Vikrita, then Shesha, Samshraya, and Bahuputra. Sthanu, Marichi, Atri, and mighty Kratu came next, along with Pulastya, Angiras, Prachetas, and Pulaha. Then Daksha, Vivasvan, Aparā, Arishtanemi, and finally the illustrious Kashyapa. Daksha, the renowned progenitor, had sixty daughters, each of great fame. Kashyapa accepted eight of them: Aditi, Diti, Danu, Kālakā, Tāmra, Krodhavasā, Manu, and Anala. Pleased, Kashyapa promised these daughters that their sons would be lords of the three worlds, equal to himself. From Aditi were born the thirty-three gods—the Ādityas, Vasus, Rudras, and Aśvins. Diti gave birth to the renowned Daityas. Naraka and Kālaka were also born, as well as Kālakā. Tāmrā gave birth to five daughters: Krauñcī, Bhāsī, Śyenī, Dhṛtarāṣṭrī, and Śukī. Krauñcī bore owls; Bhāsī gave birth to herons; Śyenī to hawks and powerful vultures; Dhṛtarāṣṭrī to swans and all kinds of geese, and also to chakravāka birds. Śukī’s daughter Natā gave birth to Vinatā. From Vinatā came two sons: Garuḍa and Aruṇa. From Aruṇa, I was born, and my elder brother is Sampāti. Know me as Jaṭāyu, son of Śyenī, O Rāma. Krodhavasā, from her own being and wrath, produced ten sons: Mṛgī, Mṛgamandā, Harī, Bhadramadā, Mātaṅgī, Śārdūlī, Śvetā, Surabhī, Surasā, and Kadrū. All the deer sprang from Mṛgī; bears from Mṛgamandā, Sṛmarā, and Camarā. Bhadramadā’s daughter Irāvatī gave birth to Airāvata, the great elephant. Harī gave rise to monkeys and ascetic vanaras; Śārdūlī to tailed langurs and tigers. Mātaṅgī’s offspring were elephants; Śvetā gave birth to the elephant of the quarters. Surabhī bore two daughters: Rohiṇī and Gandharvī. Rohiṇī gave birth to cows, Gandharvī to horses. Surasā bore serpents, and Kadrū bore the nāgas. Manu begot humans, and from Kaśyapa came the four varnas: Brāhmaṇas from his mouth, Kṣatriyas from his chest, Vaiśyas from his thighs, and Śūdras from his feet. Anala gave birth to all trees bearing virtuous fruits. Kadrū gave birth to a thousand earth-supporting nāgas; Vinatā, granddaughter of Śukī, gave birth to Garuḍa and Aruṇa. Thus, O Rāma, I am Jaṭāyu. If you wish, I will be your companion here, for this forest is a difficult stronghold, frequented by wild beasts and rākṣasas. I will protect Sītā when you depart with Lakṣmaṇa.” Rāma, delighted and grateful, honored Jaṭāyu, embracing him joyfully and bowing, remembering the stories his father had told of their friendship. Entrusting Sītā, the princess of Mithilā, to Jaṭāyu’s care, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa continued on to Pañcavaṭī, eager to destroy their enemies as fire consumes moths. After completing his ablutions, Rāma, accompanied by Sītā and Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa), left the bank of the Godāvarī and returned to his hermitage. Together, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa performed their morning rituals and entered their leaf-hut. There, Rāma dwelt happily, honored by the great sages, sitting with Sītā in the hut. The mighty-armed Rāma shone like the moon adorned with patterns, and with his brother Lakṣmaṇa, he engaged in various pleasant conversations, enjoying the peace and sanctity of their forest home.