इत्युक्तः करुणं वाक्यं वानरैस्त्यक्तजीवितैः। सवाष्पो वानरान् गृध्रः प्रत्युवाच महास्वनः॥
When the monkeys, whose lives had well nigh departed out of them, had spoken these piteous words, the vulture, in solemn accents, with tears in his eyes, said to the monkeys,
यवीयान् स मम भ्राता जटायुर्नाम वानराः। यमाख्यात हतं युद्ध रावणेन बलीयसा॥
You monkeys, you have said that my younger brother, named Jaţāyu, has been slain in battle by the powerful Rāvaņa.
वृद्धभावादपक्षत्वाच्छृण्वंस्तदपि मर्षये। नहि मे शक्तिरस्त्यद्य भ्रातुर्वैरविमोक्षणे॥
On account of my age and want of wings, I, although hearing this, bear it. Nor have I strength to-day to clear scores touching my brother's enmity.
पुरा वृत्रवधे वृत्ते स चाहं च जयैषिणौ। आदित्यमुपयातौ स्वो ज्वलन्तं रश्मिमालिनम्॥ आवृत्याकाशमार्गेण जवेन स्वर्गतौ भृशम्। मध्यं प्राप्ते तु सूर्ये तु जटायुरवसीदति ॥
Formerly, while engaged in the destruction of Vrtra, he and I, burning for victory, soared in the sky near the flaming sun, garlanded by glory. Thence impetuously wheeling round, we went to the celestial regions along the etherial way. And it came to pass that, coming midway of the sun, Jațāyu was faint.
तमहं भ्रातरं दृष्ट्वा सूर्यरश्मिभिरतिम्। पक्षाभ्यां छादयामास स्नेहात् परमविह्वलम्॥
Witnessing my brother severely struck by the solar rays and exceedingly stupefied, I from affection shadowed him with my wings.
निर्दग्धपत्रः पतितो विन्ध्येऽहं वानरर्षभाः। अहमस्मिन् वसन् भ्रातुः प्रवृत्तिं नोपलक्षये॥
Thereat, my pinions scathed, I dropped down on Vindhya, you foremost of monkeys; and staying here, I could not know the circumstances that have befallen my brother.
जटायुषस्त्वेवमुक्तो भ्रात्रा सम्पातिना तदा। युवराजो महाप्रज्ञः प्रत्युवाचाङ्गदस्तदा॥
Thus addressed by Jatāyu's brother, Sampāti, the eminently wise prince Angada answered,
जटायुषो यदि भ्राता श्रुतं ते गतिदं मया। आख्याहि यदि जानासि निलयं तस्य रक्षसः॥ अदीर्घदर्शिनं तं वै रावणं राक्षसाधमम्। अन्तिके यदि वा दूरे यदि जानासि शंस नः॥
'If you are indeed the brother of Jațāyu, having heard what I have related, tell (us) if you know touching the abode of that Rākşasa. Tell us if you know anent that short-sighted worst of Raksasas, Ravana, whether staying far or near.
ततोऽब्रवीन्महातेजा भ्राता ज्येष्ठो जटायुषः। आत्मानुरूपं वचनं वानरान् सम्प्रहर्षयन्॥
Thereat, rejoicing the monkeys, the exceedingly energetic elder brother of Jațāyu spoke words worthy of him.
निर्दग्धपक्षो गृध्रोऽहं गतवीर्यः प्लवङ्गमाः। वाङ्मात्रेणापि रामस्य करिष्ये साह्यमुत्तम्॥
You monkeys, my pinions have been burnt; and I am a vulture shorn of strength. Therefore I will help Rāma well by my words.
जानामि वारुणाँल्लोकान् विष्णोस्त्रैविक्रमानपि। देवासुरविमर्दाश्च ह्यमृतस्य विमन्थनम्॥
I know the realms of Varuna, and Visnu's Trivikrama* worlds, the wars of the gods and Asuras, and the churning for ambrosia. *i.e. the worlds enveloped by his three steps during his Dwarf incarnation.
रामस्य यदिदं कार्यं कर्तव्यं प्रथमं मया। जरया च हृतं तेजः प्राणाश्च शिथिला मम॥
And albeit age has deprived me of energy, and albeit my life hangs loosely on me, yet, if this is Rāma's work, it should be done by me first.
तरुणी रूपसम्पन्ना सर्वाभरणभूषिता। ह्रियमाणा मया दृष्टा रावणेन दुरात्मना॥
I have seen a youthful and beautiful female, adorned with all ornaments, carried away by the wicked Rāvana,
क्रोशन्ती रामरामेति लक्ष्मणेति च भामिनी। भूषणान्यपविध्यन्ती गात्राणि च विधुन्वती॥
The lady (all the while) crying, 'O Rāma!' 'O Rāma!' '0 Lakşmaņa! And And taking her ornaments from her person, she was throwing them on the ground.
सूर्यप्रभेव शैलाग्रे तस्याः कौशेयमुत्तमम्। असिते राक्षसे भाति यथा वा तडिदम्बुदे॥
Her silken cloth seemed like the solar splendour on the summit of a mountain; and herself beside the sable Rākşasa, looked like the lightning in the welkin (beside clouds).
तां तु सीतामहं मन्ये रामस्य परिकीर्तनात्। श्रूयतां मे कथयतो निलयं तस्य रक्षसः॥
From your relation of Rāma, I conclude that she must be Sītā. Now listen to me as I tell you about the abode of that Rākşasa.
पुत्रो विश्रवसः साक्षाद् भ्राता वैश्रवणस्य च। अध्यास्ते नगरी लङ्कां रावणो नाम राक्षसः॥
Son to Viśravana and brother to Vaiśravaņa, the Rākşasa named Rāvana resides in the city of Lankā.
इतो द्वीपे समुद्रस्य सम्पूर्णे शतयोजने। तस्मिल्लङ्का पुरी रम्या निर्मिता विश्वकर्मणा॥ जाम्बूनदमयैद्वारैश्चित्रैः काञ्चनवेदिकैः। प्रासादैर्हेमवर्णैश्च महद्भिः सुसमाकृता॥ प्राकारेणार्कवर्णेन महता च समन्विता। तस्यां वसति वैदेही दीना कौशेयवासिनी॥ रावणान्तःपुरे रुद्धा राक्षसीभिः सुरक्षिता। जनकस्यात्मजां राज्ञस्तस्यां द्रक्ष्यथ मैथिलीम्॥
The lovely city of Lankā, reared by Viśvakarmā, lieth a full hundred Yojanas hence on an island in the sea; furnished with golden gateways, filled with variegated daises, lordly gold-gleaming places; and girt round with great walls hued like sunshine. There stayeth Vaidehi, forlorn and clad in a silken cloth,—-confined in the inner apartment of Rāvana, and carefully guarded by Rākṣasīs. In Lankā protected all round by the sea, you shall behold Janaka's daughter, Maithili.
लङ्कायामथ गुप्तायां सागरेण समन्ततः। सम्प्राप्य सागरस्यान्तं सम्पूर्णं शतयोजनम्॥ आसाद्य दक्षिणं तीरं ततो द्रक्ष्यथ रावणम्। तत्रैव त्वरिताः क्षिप्रं विक्रमध्वं प्लवङ्गमाः॥
As the end of the ocean after a full hundred Yojanas, arriving at its southern shore, you shall see Rāvana in Laņkā, protected by ocean from all sides. You monkeys, do you hie thither speedily with vigour.
ज्ञानेन खलु पश्यामि दृष्ट्वा प्रत्यागमिष्यथ। आद्यः पन्थाः कुलिङ्गानां ये चान्ये धान्यजीविनः।।२६।
I perceive by my knowledge that having seen (that place) you shall come back. The first course belongs to forktailed shrikes and others living on grain.
द्वितीयो बलिभोजानां ये च वृक्षफलाशनाः। भासास्तृतीयं गच्छन्ति क्रौञ्चाश्च कुररैः सह ॥ श्येनाश्चतुर्थं गच्छन्ति गृध्रा गच्छन्ति पञ्चमम्। बलवीर्योपपन्नानां रूपयौवनशालिनाम्॥ षष्ठस्तु पन्था हंसानां वैनतेयगतिः परा। वैनतेयाच्च नो जन्म सर्वेषां वानरर्षभाः॥
The second, to those that live on animals and fruits; the third is ranged by Bhāşas; the fourth by Krunchas, Kuvaras and hawks; the fifth by vultures; the sixth belongs to swans endowed with youth and beauty; and the next to the Vainateyas. We have derived or origin from Vainateya. *Aruna, son to Vinata.
गर्हितं तु कृतं कर्म येन स्म पिशिताशिनः। प्रतिकार्य च मे तस्य वैरं भ्रातृकृतं भवेत्॥
(By despatching you thither), I shall avenge the heinous deed perpetrated by the cannibal, as well as the wrong done by Rāvana to my brother.
इहस्थोऽहं प्रपश्यामि रावणं जानकी तथा। अस्माकमपि सौपर्णं दिव्यं चक्षुर्बलं तथा॥
Resting here, I see Ravana and Janaki. We have excellent Sauparana' clairvoyance. *Clairvoyance attained by success in knowledge respecting the spiritual Golden eyes. Thus far the commentator. We leave the abstruse point to the apostles of theosophy and spiritism for illucidation.
तस्मादाहारवीर्येण निसर्गेण च वानराः। आयोजनशताद् साग्राद् वयं पश्याम नित्यशः॥
For this reason, as well as owing to the energy consequent on our feeding on certain kinds of flesh, we, you monkeys, can see a little further than an hundred Yojanas.
अस्माकं विहिता वृत्तिनिसर्गेण च दूरतः। विहिता वृक्षमूले तु वृत्तिश्चरणयोधिनाम्॥
Therefore (the Deity) has ordained such food for us as are fraught with the power of making one see from a great distance. And the abode of cocks and others being underneath trees, their sight is limited to the extent which they require to see.
उपायो दृश्यतां कश्चिल्लङ्घने लवणाम्भसः। अभिगम्य तु वैदेही समृद्धार्था गमिष्यथ ॥ समुद्रं नेतुमिच्छामि भवद्भिर्वरुणालयम्। प्रदास्याम्युदकं भ्रातुः स्वर्गतस्य महात्मनः॥
Do you look about for means to cross over the salt waters. Having met with Vaidehi, do you, having achieved success, come back. I wish to be taken by you to the ocean-abode of Varuna. I will offer water to (the manes of) my highsouled brother, who has gone to heaven.
ततो नीत्वा तु तं देशं तीरे नदनदीपतेः। निर्दग्धपक्षं सम्पातिं वानराः सुमहौजसः॥ तं पुनः प्रापयित्वा च तं देशं पतगेश्वरम्। बभूवुर्वानरा हृष्टाः प्रवृत्तिमुपलभ्य ते॥
Thereat those heroes, the monkeys possessed of exceeding energy, carried to the destined spot on the shore of the ocean, Sampāti, whose wings had been scathed. Then carrying that lord of vultures back to the self-same place, the monkeys, furnished with information (concerning Sītā), experienced great joy.