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.
ब्रूहि ब्रूहीति रामस्य ब्रुवाणस्य कृताञ्जलेः। त्यक्त्वा शरीरं गृध्रस्य प्राणा जग्मुर्विहायसम्
As Rama, with joined palms, kept saying 'Speak, speak,' the vulture's life departed, leaving the body, and went to the sky.
स निक्षिप्य शिरो भूमौ प्रसार्य चरणौ तथा। विक्षिप्य च शरीरं स्वं पपात धरणीतले
Placing his head on the ground, stretching out his feet, and casting his body aside, he fell upon the earth.
तं गृध्रं प्रेक्ष्य ताम्राक्षं गतासुमचलोपमम्। रामः सुबहुभिर्दुःखैर्दीनः सौमित्रिमब्रवीत्
Seeing that vulture, with coppery eyes, lifeless and unmoving like a mountain, Rama, afflicted by many sorrows, spoke to Saumitri:
बहूनि रक्षसां वासे वर्षाणि वसता सुखम्। अनेन दण्डकारण्ये विशीर्णमिह पक्षिणा
For many years, dwelling happily among the Rakshasas, this bird lived here in the Dandaka forest, and now lies destroyed.
अनेकवार्षिको यस्तु चिरकालसमुत्थितः। सोऽयमद्य हतः शेते कालो हि दुरतिक्रमः
He who lived for many years, arisen after a long time, now lies slain today; for time is indeed insurmountable.
पश्य लक्ष्मण गृध्रोऽयमुपकारी हतश्च मे। सीतामभ्यवपन्नो हि रावणेन बलीयसा
See, Lakshmana, this vulture, my benefactor, has been slain; he encountered Sita, indeed, when she was seized by the powerful Ravana.
गृध्रराज्यं परित्यज्य पितृपैतामहं महत्। मम हेतोरयं प्राणान् मुमोच पतगेश्वरः
Abandoning a great kingdom of vultures, inherited from his father and grandfather, this lord of birds gave up his life for my sake.
सर्वत्र खलु दृश्यन्ते साधवो धर्मचारिणः। शूराः शरण्याः सौमित्रे तिर्यग्योनिगतेष्वपि
Indeed, everywhere are found the virtuous, those who walk in righteousness, the brave, and those who offer refuge, O Saumitri—even among creatures born in animal forms.
सीताहरणजं दुःखं न मे सौम्य तथागतम्। यथा विनाशो गृध्रस्य मत्कृते च परंतप
The sorrow caused by Sita’s abduction, gentle one, has not affected me as much as the destruction of this vulture, who perished for my sake, O subduer of foes.
राजा दशरथः श्रीमान् यथा मम महायशाः। पूजनीयश्च मान्यश्च तथायं पतगेश्वरः
Just as the illustrious King Dasharatha, my renowned father, is worthy of honor and respect, so too is this lord of birds.