लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा वैदेह्या सह भार्यया। पितुर्निदेशनिरतो धर्मं पन्थानमाश्रितः
With his brother Lakshmana and his wife Sita, devoted to his father's command, he followed the path of righteousness.
तस्य भार्या जनस्थानाद् रावणेन हृता बलात्। रामस्य तु पितुर्मित्रं जटायुर्नाम गृध्रराट्
His wife was seized by Ravana with force from Janasthana; Rama's father's friend was the king of vultures named Jatayu.
ददर्श सीतां वैदेहीं ह्रियमाणां विहायसा। रावणं विरथं कृत्वा स्थापयित्वा च मैथिलीम्। परिश्रान्तश्च वृद्धश्च रावणेन हतो रणे
He saw Sita, the daughter of Videha, being carried away through the sky; having made Ravana lose his chariot and set Maithili down, weary and old, he was slain in battle by Ravana.
एवं गृध्रो हतस्तेन रावणेन बलीयसा। संस्कृतश्चापि रामेण जगाम गतिमुत्तमाम्
Thus, that vulture was killed by the powerful Ravana; honored by Rama, he attained the highest state.
ततो मम पितृव्येण सुग्रीवेण महात्मना। चकार राघवः सख्यं सोऽवधीत् पितरं मम
Then Rama formed a friendship with my uncle Sugriva, the great-souled one; he killed my father.
मम पित्रा निरुद्धो हि सुग्रीवः सचिवैः सह। निहत्य वालिनं रामस्ततस्तमभिषेचयत्
My father had confined Sugriva with his counselors; then Rama killed Vali and installed Sugriva.
स राज्ये स्थापितस्तेन सुग्रीवो वानरेश्वरः। राजा वानरमुख्यानां तेन प्रस्थापिता वयम्
Thus established in the kingdom by him, Sugriva became lord of the monkeys; by him, we chief monkeys were sent out.
एवं रामप्रयुक्तास्तु मार्गमाणास्ततस्ततः। वैदेहीं नाधिगच्छामो रात्रौ सूर्यप्रभामिव
Thus, sent by Rama, we searched everywhere; but we could not find Sita, as one cannot see the sun's rays at night.
ते वयं दण्डकारण्यं विचित्य सुसमाहिताः। अज्ञानात् तु प्रविष्टाः स्म धरण्या विवृतं बिलम्
We thoroughly searched the Dandaka forest, but unknowingly entered a cave opened in the earth.
मयस्य मायाविहितं तद् बिलं च विचिन्वताम्। व्यतीतस्तत्र नो मासो यो राज्ञा समयः कृतः
While searching, we entered that cave created by Maya's magic; there, the month allotted by the king passed away.
ते वयं कपिराजस्य सर्वे वचनकारिणः। कृतां संस्थामतिक्रान्ता भयात् प्रायमुपासिताः
We all, obedient to the monkey king's command, have exceeded the set time and, out of fear, have resorted to fasting.
क्रुद्धे तस्मिंस्तु काकुत्स्थे सुग्रीवे च सलक्ष्मणे। गतानामपि सर्वेषां तत्र नो नास्ति जीवितम्
If Kākutstha is angered, and Sugrīva together with Lakṣmaṇa as well, then for all of us who have come here, there is no hope of life.
thumb|अष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे किष्किन्धाकाण्डे अष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः ॥४-
Listen to the fifty-eighth chapter in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Kiṣkindhā Kāṇḍa.
इत्युक्तः करुणं वाक्यं वानरैस्त्यक्तजीवितैः। सबाष्पो वानरान् गृध्रः प्रत्युवाच महास्वनः
Thus addressed with sorrowful words by the monkeys who had given up hope of life, the vulture, his voice resounding, replied to the monkeys with tears in his eyes.
यवीयान् स मम भ्राता जटायुर्नाम वानराः। यमाख्यात हतं युद्धे रावणेन बलीयसा
My younger brother, O monkeys, was named Jaṭāyu, whom you said was slain in battle by the mighty Rāvaṇa.
वृद्धभावादपक्षत्वाच्छृण्वंस्तदपि मर्षये। नहि मे शक्तिरस्त्यद्य भ्रातुर्वैरविमोक्षणे
Because of old age and loss of wings, I endured even hearing of that, for I have no strength today to avenge my brother's enmity.
पुरा वृत्रवधे वृत्ते स चाहं च जयैषिणौ। आदित्यमुपयातौ स्वो ज्वलन्तं रश्मिमालिनम्
Long ago, after the slaying of Vṛtra, both he and I, desiring victory, approached the blazing sun, adorned with rays.
आवृत्याकाशमार्गेण जवेन स्वर्गतौ भृशम्। मध्यं प्राप्ते तु सूर्ये तु जटायुरवसीदति
Covering the path of the sky with great speed, we soared toward heaven; but when we reached the sun's midpoint, Jaṭāyu began to falter.
तमहं भ्रातरं दृष्ट्वा सूर्यरश्मिभिरर्दितम्। पक्षाभ्यां छादयामास स्नेहात् परमविह्वलम्
Seeing my brother scorched by the sun's rays, I, overwhelmed with affection, shielded him with my wings.
निर्दग्धपत्रः पतितो विन्ध्येऽहं वानरर्षभाः। अहमस्मिन् वसन् भ्रातुः प्रवृत्तिं नोपलक्षये
My wings burned, I fell upon the Vindhya mountains, O best of monkeys; living here, I have not learned any news of my brother.
जटायुषस्त्वेवमुक्तो भ्रात्रा सम्पातिना तदा। युवराजो महाप्रज्ञः प्रत्युवाचाङ्गदस्तदा
When Jaṭāyu was thus addressed by his brother Sampāti, then the wise prince Aṅgada replied.
जटायुषो यदि भ्राता श्रुतं ते गदितं मया। आख्याहि यदि जानासि निलयं तस्य रक्षसः
If you have heard what I have told you about Jaṭāyu's brother, then tell us, if you know, the dwelling place of that Rākṣasa.
अदीर्घदर्शिनं तं वै रावणं राक्षसाधमम्। अन्तिके यदि वा दूरे यदि जानासि शंस नः
That short-sighted Rāvaṇa, the worst of Rākṣasas—whether he is near or far, if you know, tell us.
ततोऽब्रवीन्महातेजा भ्राता ज्येष्ठो जटायुषः। आत्मानुरूपं वचनं वानरान् सम्प्रहर्षयन्
Then the eldest brother of Jaṭāyu, possessed of great energy, spoke words befitting himself, gladdening the monkeys.
निर्दग्धपक्षो गृध्रोऽहं गतवीर्यः प्लवङ्गमाः। वाङ्मात्रेण तु रामस्य करिष्ये साह्यमुत्तमम्
I am a vulture with wings burned, my strength gone, O monkeys; yet with words alone I will render the highest help to Rāma.
जानामि वारुणाँल्लोकान् विष्णोस्त्रैविक्रमानपि। देवासुरविमर्दांश्च ह्यमृतस्य विमन्थनम्
I know the worlds of Varuṇa, and even the three strides of Viṣṇu; I know the battles of gods and demons, and the churning of the nectar.
रामस्य यदिदं कार्यं कर्तव्यं प्रथमं मया। जरया च हृतं तेजः प्राणाश्च शिथिला मम
Whatever task of Rāma's is to be done, it must first be done by me; but my vigor has been taken by old age, and my life-breaths are weak.
तरुणी रूपसम्पन्ना सर्वाभरणभूषिता। ह्रियमाणा मया दृष्टा रावणेन दुरात्मना
A young woman, beautiful in form and adorned with all ornaments, was seen by me being carried away by the wicked Rāvaṇa.
क्रोशन्ती रामरामेति लक्ष्मणेति च भामिनी। भूषणान्यपविध्यन्ती गात्राणि च विधुन्वती
She was crying out, 'Rāma! Rāma!' and 'Lakṣmaṇa!'—that radiant woman, casting off her ornaments and shaking her limbs.
सूर्यप्रभेव शैलाग्रे तस्याः कौशेयमुत्तमम्। असिते राक्षसे भाति यथा वा तडिदम्बुदे
Her fine silk, radiant like sunlight atop a mountain, shines on the dark demon as lightning on a rain cloud.