Created by Jijith Nadumuri at 26 Aug 2011 14:24 and updated at 26 Aug 2011 14:24
VALMIKI RAMAYANA
| Previous | Index | Next |
BOOK 4: KISHKINDA KANDA
SECTION 58
When those Vanaras whose lives are almost purged spoke to Sampati with such dreary words, that thunder voiced eagle tearfully spoke to those vanara s. (4 58 1) Oh, vanara s, of whom it is enounced that mighty Ravana
felled him in a combat, that one is my younger brother named Jatayu… (4 58 2) Even though I hear that my brother is slain I have to resign myself from any activity owing to my oldness and my winglessness, and presently I am indeed incapacitated to retaliate my brother s enemy… (4 58 3) Once, when the elimination of Vritra was taking place at the hand of Indra, we two eagle brothers sportively desiring to surpass each
other flew sunward, and we have gone very near to the scorch rayed sun… (4 58 4) Covering the skyway we have gone to firmament much speedily, then bechanced is noontide and thus bechanced is the scorching of the noontime sun, and then Jatayu started to founder… (4 58 5) On seeing him who is being thwarted by scorching sunrays,
then I started to cover my highly fretful brother with both of my wings in all my brotherliness… (4 58 6) And oh, vanara chiefs, when sunrays have utterly burned my wings I fell down on this Mountain Vindhya, and while living hereabouts constrainedly, I could pay no attention to my brother s experiences or, at least his existence, or otherwise… So lamented old Sampati. (4 58 7)
When Sampati the brother of Jatayu spoke in that way, then the highly discerning crown prince Angada replied him. (4 58 8) If you are the brother of Jatayu, if you have heard whatever I have said in praise of Jatayu, and if you are aware of the whereabouts of Ravana… please tell it… (4 58 9) If you are aware of the location of that bigoted and
knavish Rakshasa Ravana, please inform us. Doesn t matter whether that location is nearby or far off as we can search far and wide… Thus Angada asked Sampati. (4 58 10) Then Sampati, the high spirited elder brother of Jatayu, spoke these words that are self befitting and that would highly gladden the Vanaras. (4 58 11)
I am an eagle with utterly burnt wings and vanished valiance, even then, I wish to render a best service in the task of Rama, at least verbally… (4 58 12) I have seen the netherworlds of Rain god viz., earth and its substrata like Atala. Vitala, Sutala, Patala terrains… and I have even seen those empyrean worlds that were triply trodden by Vishnu, and the intermediary regions of upper and lower worlds where Devas and Asuras combated ghastlily, and because I am that aged I have also seen the unseeable
Milky Ocean when it was churned for Ambrosia… (4 58 13) It is I who am to render service in this task of Rama firstly, than you vanara s, as the common enemy of Rama and Jatayu is my first enemy, but I am decrepit as oldness has marred my vigour and vitality… (4 58 14) I have seen a youngish lady while she is being stolen away
by the black hearted Rakshasa Ravana. She richly in her mien, embellished with every befitting jewellery for a princess, and that lady in fury was bewailing calling, Rama… Rama… even calling Lakshmana… and she was throwing her ornaments down and her limbs were highly wriggly to set herself free from that Rakshasa… (4 58 15, 16) In the flank of that blackish Rakshasa her best ochry silk sari was dazzling like sunshine atop a blackish mountain, or like lighting athwart a blackish ocean… (4 58 17)
Thus, I deem her to be Seetha by her excessive laudation of Rama, and let the location of that Rakshasa be heard from me while I say about it… (4 58 18) Literally, he is the son of Vishravasa and brother of Kubera, and he presides over the city named Lanka and he is known as Ravana… (4 58 19)
There is a lavish city in the oceanic island afar a hundred Yojana s all in all from here, which Vishvakarma, the Divine Architect, has built, and it is called Lanka. (4 58 20) Its multi storied buildings are built very symmetrically and they will be in golden tinge with completely golden doors. The golden podia of verandas are amazing. That city is securely enclosed in a gigantic rampart
that will be dazzling in the colour of sun… (4 58 21, 22a) Therein that Lanka pitiable Vaidehi wearing ochry silk sari is lodged in the palace chambers of Ravana, highly sentineled and baulked by Rakshasi s, and you can find king Janaka s daughter Maithili in there… (4 58 22b, 23) Now, oh, fly jumpers, first get to the other shore of the
island in southern ocean, which ocean spans in an overalled width of hundred Yojana s from this side of seashore, then landing on the other seashore you can see Lanka secluded all around by ocean, and in such a water walled Lanka you can see Ravana… hence, hurry up, and promptly triumph over Lanka… (4 58 24, 25) I foresee by my prognosis that your sighting Seetha is definite at that place, and definite is your return from there. The first flight level of Birds is that of the small Kulinga Birds, house Sparrows, song Birds and the like subsisting on food grains. The second flight level is that of the Birds
that are the eaters of leftovers like Crows and Doves, or the eaters of tree fruits like Parrots. The third flight level is that of the wading Birds like Bhaasa, Krauncha, Kurara Birds and Cranes, Herons and the like. The fourth flight level is that of Hawks and the fifth is that of the Vultures. (4 58 26, 27, 28a) And the sixth flight level is that of the Swans which derive their valour, vigour, handsomeness and youthfulness by their majestic birth. But the uppermost path is that of the sons of Lady Vinata, namely
Garuda, and Anuuru, the non stopping charioteer of Sun. Because we Eagles have our lineal descent from Garuda, we can soar to the uppermost flyable path and see keenly… (4 58 28b, 29) By which raw flesh eating Rakshasa this deplorable deed of abducting Seetha is done, if that Rakshasa is retaliated by Rama and you all, my vendetta towards the very same Rakshasa, caused by his animosity towards my brother Jatayu will also be fulfilled… (4 58 30)
Staying here I am clearly seeing Ravana and like that Janaki… even for us Eagles, our sight and power will be excellent like that of Garuda, the Divine Eagle… (4 58 31) Thereby, oh, vanara s, dietetically and congenitally we Eagles can always see till the end of hundred Yojana s, comprehensively… (4 58 32)
The leg fighters, namely cocks, are destined to have their livelihood just at the base of their feet, but our livelihood is to be obtained from the farthest… alas… (4 58 33) Let some idea be searched to leap the salty ocean. For sure, you will return to Kishkindha on your finding Vaidehi, and on your becoming productive of you objective… (4 58 34)
I wish you would shift me to the residence of Rain god, namely the ocean, for oblating water in respect of my great souled brother Jatayu who departed to heaven… Thus Sampati spoke to the Vanaras. (4 58 35) Then those vanara s of utmost dynamism on taking wing burnt bird Sampati to the husband rivulets and rivers, namely the ocean, placed him on the shoreline. Again, the vanara s sincerely brought back that king of Birds,
Sampati, after his offering oblations to Jatayu, and lodged him as a returnee at his own place. On deriving indication form Sampati regarding Seetha, Ravana and Lanka, those returnless vanara s returned to their search while their gladness returning to them. (4 58 36, 37).
| Previous | Index | Next |
Share:-
