सीतामभ्यवपन्नोऽहं रावणश्च रणे प्रभो। विध्वंसितरथच्छत्रः पतितो धरणीतले
I confronted Rāvaṇa in battle for Sītā, O lord, and his chariot and parasol were destroyed, and he fell to the ground.
एतदस्य धनुर्भग्नमेते चास्य शरास्तथा। अयमस्य रणे राम भग्नः सांग्रामिको रथः
Here is his broken bow, and these are his arrows; and here, Rāma, is his shattered war-chariot from the fight.
अयं तु सारथिस्तस्य मत्पक्षनिहतो भुवि। परिश्रान्तस्य मे पक्षौ छित्त्वा खड्गेन रावणः
Here lies his charioteer, struck down by my wing, on the ground; and Rāvaṇa, when I was exhausted, cut off my wings with his sword.
सीतामादाय वैदेहीमुत्पपात विहायसम्। रक्षसा निहतं पूर्वं मां न हन्तुं त्वमर्हसि
Taking Sītā, the daughter of Videha, he soared into the sky; O Rāma, you should not kill me, for I was already struck down by the demon.
रामस्तस्य तु विज्ञाय सीतासक्तां प्रियां कथाम्। गृध्रराजं परिष्वज्य परित्यज्य महद् धनुः
Rāma, understanding the dear tale attached to Sītā, embraced the king of vultures, setting aside his great bow.
निपपातावशो भूमौ रुरोद सहलक्ष्मणः। द्विगुणीकृततापार्तो रामो धीरतरोऽपि सन्
He fell helplessly to the ground and wept with Lakṣmaṇa; though steadfast, Rāma was overcome by doubled sorrow.
एकमेकायने कृच्छ्रे निःश्वसन्तं मुहुर्मुहुः। समीक्ष्य दुःखितो रामः सौमित्रिमिदमब्रवीत्
Seeing him, alone on the lonely path, breathing heavily again and again, the distressed Rāma spoke to Saumitri as follows:
राज्यं भ्रष्टं वने वासः सीता नष्टा मृतो द्विजः। ईदृशीयं ममालक्ष्मीर्दहेदपि हि पावकम्
The kingdom lost, dwelling in the forest, Sītā gone, the bird slain—such misfortune of mine could even burn fire itself.
सम्पूर्णमपि चेदद्य प्रतरेयं महोदधिम्। सोऽपि नूनं ममालक्ष्म्या विशुष्येत् सरितां पतिः
Even if today I could cross the full great ocean, surely, by my misfortune, the lord of rivers would dry up.
नास्त्यभाग्यतरो लोके मत्तोऽस्मिन् स चराचरे। येनेयं महती प्राप्ता मया व्यसनवागुरा
There is no one in the world, among moving and unmoving beings, more unfortunate than I, who have fallen into this great snare of calamity.
अयं पितुर्वयस्यो मे गृध्रराजो महाबलः। शेते विनिहतो भूमौ मम भाग्यविपर्ययात्
This king of vultures, mighty and my father's friend, lies slain on the ground because of the reversal of my fortune.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा बहुशो राघवः सहलक्ष्मणः। जटायुषं च पस्पर्श पितृस्नेहं निदर्शयन्
Having spoken thus many times, Rāghava, with Lakṣmaṇa, touched Jaṭāyu, showing the affection of a son.
निकृत्तपक्षं रुधिरावसिक्तं तं गृध्रराजं परिगृह्य राघवः। क्व मैथिली प्राणसमा गतेति विमुच्य वाचं निपपात भूमौ
Embracing the king of vultures, whose wings were cut and who was soaked in blood, Rāghava cried out, 'Where has Maithilī, dear as life, gone?' and fell to the ground.
thumb|अष्टषष्ठितमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे अष्टषष्ठितमः सर्गः ॥३-
Let the sixty-eighth sarga be heard in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇyakāṇḍa.
रामः प्रेक्ष्य तु तं गृध्रं भुवि रौद्रेण पातितम्। सौमित्रिं मित्रसम्पन्नमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Rāma, seeing that vulture fallen to the earth by a cruel blow, spoke these words to Saumitri, his true friend.
ममायं नूनमर्थेषु यतमानो विहंगमः। राक्षसेन हतः संख्ये प्राणांस्त्यजति मत्कृते
Surely, this bird, striving for my sake, was slain in battle by the demon and is giving up his life for me.
अतिखिन्नः शरीरेऽस्मिन् प्राणो लक्ष्मण विद्यते। तथा स्वरविहीनोऽयं विक्लवं समुदीक्षते
Though his body is greatly wounded, life still remains in him, Lakṣmaṇa; yet, deprived of his voice, he looks upon us helplessly.
जटायो यदि शक्नोषि वाक्यं व्याहरितुं पुनः। सीतामाख्याहि भद्रं ते वधमाख्याहि चात्मनः
O Jatayu, if you are able to speak again, tell me about Sita—may good befall you—and also tell me about your own slaying.
किंनिमित्तो जहारार्यां रावणस्तस्य किं मया। अपराधं तु यं दृष्ट्वा रावणेन हृता प्रिया
For what reason did Ravana abduct my noble wife? What fault did I commit, seeing which Ravana took my beloved?
कथं तच्चन्द्रसंकाशं मुखमासीन्मनोहरम्। सीतया कानि चोक्तानि तस्मिन् काले द्विजोत्तम
How was her face, lovely as the moon, at that time, O best of birds? And what words did Sita speak then?
कथंवीर्यः कथंरूपः किंकर्मा स च राक्षसः। क्व चास्य भवनं तात ब्रूहि मे परिपृच्छतः
What is the strength, what is the form, and what are the deeds of that Rakshasa? And where is his abode, father? Tell me as I question you.
तमुद्वीक्ष्य स धर्मात्मा विलपन्तमनाथवत्। वाचा विक्लवया राममिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Looking at him, who was lamenting like one without support, that righteous soul addressed Rama with faltering speech, saying these words:
सा हृता राक्षसेन्द्रेण रावणेन दुरात्मना। मायामास्थाय विपुलां वातदुर्दिनसंकुलाम्
She was carried off by the king of Rakshasas, Ravana, that evil-minded one, employing a great illusion amidst a stormy, wind-filled day.
परिक्लान्तस्य मे तात पक्षौ छित्त्वा निशाचरः। सीतामादाय वैदेहीं प्रयातो दक्षिणामुखः
O child, when I was exhausted, that night-wanderer cut off my wings and, taking Sita of Videha, went southward.
उपरुध्यन्ति मे प्राणा दृष्टिर्भ्रमति राघव। पश्यामि वृक्षान् सौवर्णानुशीरकृतमूर्धजान्
My life is departing, my sight is reeling, O Raghava; I see trees with golden crests, their tops scattered.
येन याति मुहूर्तेन सीतामादाय रावणः। विप्रणष्टं धनं क्षिप्रं तत्स्वामी प्रतिपद्यते
In the time it takes for a moment to pass, Ravana, taking Sita, goes; just as lost wealth is swiftly regained by its owner.
विन्दो नाम मुहूर्तोऽसौ न च काकुत्स्थ सोऽबुधत् । त्वत्प्रियां जानकीं हृत्वा रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः। झषवद् बडिशं गृह्य क्षिप्रमेव विनश्यति
That moment is called 'Vinda', but O Kakutstha, he did not realize it; having taken your beloved Janaki, Ravana, lord of Rakshasas, like a fish that has swallowed the hook, will quickly perish.
न च त्वया व्यथा कार्या जनकस्य सुतां प्रति। वैदेह्या रंस्यसे क्षिप्रं हत्वा तं रणमूर्धनि
You should not grieve regarding the daughter of Janaka; you will soon rejoice with Vaidehi, having slain him on the battlefield.
असम्मूढस्य गृध्रस्य रामं प्रत्यनुभाषतः। आस्यात् सुस्राव रुधिरं म्रियमाणस्य सामिषम्
As the vulture, not deluded, spoke to Rama, blood mixed with flesh flowed from his mouth as he was dying.
पुत्रो विश्रवसः साक्षाद् भ्राता वैश्रवणस्य च। इत्युक्त्वा दुर्लभान् प्राणान् मुमोच पतगेश्वरः
He is the son of Vishrava himself, and the brother of Vaishravana; saying this, the lord of birds released his hard-to-attain life-breath.