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.
सौमित्रे हर काष्ठानि निर्मथिष्यामि पावकम्। गृध्रराजं दिधक्ष्यामि मत्कृते निधनं गतम्
Saumitri, bring wood; I will kindle a fire and cremate the king of vultures, who has met his end for my sake.
नाथं पतगलोकस्य चितिमारोपयाम्यहम्। इमं धक्ष्यामि सौमित्रे हतं रौद्रेण रक्षसा
I will lay this protector of the bird world upon the funeral pyre; I shall burn him, Saumitri, who was slain by the fierce demon.
या गतिर्यज्ञशीलानामाहिताग्नेश्च या गतिः। अपरावर्तिनां या च या च भूमिप्रदायिनाम्
The destiny attained by those devoted to sacrifice, by those who maintain sacred fires, by those who do not turn back, and by those who give away land—
मया त्वं समनुज्ञातो गच्छ लोकाननुत्तमान्। गृध्रराज महासत्त्व संस्कृतश्च मया व्रज
By me you are permitted: go to the highest worlds, O king of vultures, great in spirit; having been honored by me, depart.
एवमुक्त्वा चितां दीप्तामारोप्य पतगेश्वरम्। ददाह रामो धर्मात्मा स्वबन्धुमिव दुःखितः
Having spoken thus, Rama, righteous-souled and grieving as for a kinsman, placed the lord of birds on the blazing pyre and burned him.
रामोऽथ सहसौमित्रिर्वनं गत्वा स वीर्यवान्। स्थूलान् हत्वा महारोहीननुतस्तार तं द्विजम्
Then Rama, together with Saumitri, valiant, went into the forest, slew large, great-bodied animals, and offered them to that bird.
रोहिमांसानि चोद्धृत्य पेशीकृत्वा महायशाः। शकुनाय ददौ रामो रम्ये हरितशाद्वले
And having taken the flesh of those animals, cut into pieces, the illustrious Rama gave it to the bird on a beautiful green meadow.
यत् तत् प्रेतस्य मर्त्यस्य कथयन्ति द्विजातयः। तत् स्वर्गगमनं पित्र्यं तस्य रामो जजाप ह
That ancestral rite which the twice-born prescribe for the departed—Rama performed that funeral ritual for him, to send him to heaven.
ततो गोदावरीं गत्वा नदीं नरवरात्मजौ। उदकं चक्रतुस्तस्मै गृध्रराजाय तावुभौ
Then the two sons of the best of men went to the Godavari river and offered water to the king of vultures.
शास्त्रदृष्टेन विधिना जलं गृध्राय राघवौ। स्नात्वा तौ गृध्रराजाय उदकं चक्रतुस्तदा
Having bathed, the Raghavas performed the water-rite for the vulture king, according to the procedure prescribed in the scriptures.