Sloka & Translation

[Rama and Lakshmana see the wounded Jatayu with wings clipped.]

pūrvajō.pyuktamātrastu lakṣmaṇēna subhāṣitam.

sāragrāhī mahāsāraṅ pratijagrāha rāghavaḥ৷৷3.67.1৷৷


sāragrāhī who can grasp the essence, rāghavaḥ Rama, pūrvaja api being elder, lakṣmaṇēna by Lakshmana, uktamātraḥ tu only when told by, mahāsāram the great essence, subhāṣitam wise counsel, pratijagrāha accepted.

Even though Rama was elder, he could grasp the quintessence of the wise counsel only after Lakshmana had said it.
sannigṛhya mahābāhuḥ pravṛttaṅ kōpamātmanaḥ.

avaṣṭabhya dhanuścitraṅ rāmō lakṣmaṇamabravīt৷৷3.67.2৷৷


mahābāhuḥ long-armed, rāmaḥ Rama, pravṛttam risen, ātmanaḥ his own, kōpam anger, sannigṛhya after restraining, citram wonderful, dhanuḥ bow, avaṣṭabhya leaning over, lakṣmaṇam to Lakshmana, abravīt said.

Restraining his anger, the long-armed Rama leaned over his wonderful bow and spoke to Lakshmana:
kiṅ kariṣyāvahē vatsa kva vā gacchāva lakṣmaṇa.

kēnōpāyēna gacchēyaṅ sītāmiti vicintaya৷৷3.67.3৷৷


vatsa O child, lakṣmaṇa Lakshmana, kim what, kariṣyāvahē shall we do, kva vā where do we, gacchāva will go, sītām Sita, kēna upāyēna by what means, gacchēyam may I reach, iti this, vicintaya think.

O dear Lakshmana, what shall we do? Where do we go ? Think of some means by which we can reach Sita.
taṅ tathā paritāpārtaṅ lakṣmaṇō rāmamabravīt.

idamēva janasthānaṅ tvamanvēṣitumarhasi৷৷3.67.4৷৷

rākṣasairbahubhiḥ kīrṇaṅ nānādrumalatāyutam.


tathā so, paritāpārtam afflicted with grief, taṅ rāmam that Rama, lakṣmaṇaḥ Lakshman, abravīt said, tvam you, bahubhiḥ many, rākṣasaiḥ by demons, kīrṇam full of, nānādrumalatāyutam covered with different trees and creepers, imam this, janasthānamēva Janasthna alone, anvēṣitum to search, arhasi you should.

Lakshmana said to Rama, afflicted with grief, It is proper for you to (first) search in this Janasthana, covered with different kinds of trees and creepers, and teeming with demons.
santīha giridurgāṇi nirdarāḥ kandarāṇi ca৷৷3.67.5৷৷

guhāśca vividhā ghōrā nānāmṛgagaṇākulāḥ.

āvāsāḥ kinnarāṇāṅ ca gandharvabhavanāni ca৷৷3.67.6৷৷


iha here, giridurgāṇi difficult mountains, nirdarāḥ valleys, kandarāṇi ca and caves, vividhāḥ many, ghōrāḥ terrific, nānāmṛgagaṇākulāḥ inhabited by different animals, guhāśca caverns, kinnarāṇām of kinneras, āvāsāḥ dwelling-places, gandharvabhavanāni ca mansions of gandharvas, santi are.

Here are difficult mountains, caves, valleys, dreadful caves full of different animals, dwelling-places of kinneras and mansions of gandharvas.
tāni yuktō mayā sārdhaṅ tvamanvēṣitumarhasi.

tvadvidhā buddhisampannā mahātmānō nararṣabha৷৷3.67.7৷৷

āpatsu na prakampantē vāyuvēgairivācalāḥ.


tvam you, yuktaḥ accompanied, mayā sārdham along with me, tāni those, anvēṣitum to search, arhasi it is proper for you, nararṣabha: great men, buddhisampannāḥ endowed with wisdom, tvaddhidhāḥ of your type, mahātmānaḥ great people, vāyuvēgaiḥ speed of wind, acalāḥ iva like mountains, na prakampantē are not shaken.

Accompanied by me you should search for her in those spots. Great people endowed with wisdom do not destabilise in difficulties just as mountains are not shaken by the speed of the wind.
ityuktastadvanaṅ sarvaṅ vicacāra salakṣmaṇaḥ৷৷3.67.8৷৷

kruddhō rāmaśśaraṅ ghōraṅ sandhāya dhanuṣi kṣuram.


kruddhaḥ becoming angry, rāmaḥ Rama, iti thus, uktaḥ having been told, salakṣmaṇaḥ along with Lakskhmana , dhanuṣi in bow, ghōram terrific, kṣuraṅ śaram sharp arrows, sandhāya fixing, sarvam all, tat vanam that forest, vicacāra roamed.

Thus advised, the angry Rama fixed a sharp arrow to his bow and roamed in the forest accompanied by Lakshmana.
tataḥ parvatakūṭābhaṅ mahābhāgaṅ dvijōttamam৷৷3.67.9৷৷

dadarśa patitaṅ bhūmau kṣatajārdraṅ jaṭāyuṣam.


tataḥ then, parvatakūṭābham like a mountain top, mahābhāgam great, dvijōttamam a wonderful bird, bhūmau on the ground, patitam fallen down, kṣatajārdram drenched with blood, jaṭāyuṣam Jatayu, dadarśa saw.

Then he saw the great Jatayu, a wonderful bird, looking like a mountain top, drenched in blood and fallen on the ground.
taṅ dṛṣṭvā giriśṛṅgābhaṅ rāmō lakṣmaṇamabravīt৷৷3.67.10৷৷

anēna sītā vaidēhī bhakṣitā nātra saṅśayaḥ.


giriśṛṅgābham like a peak of the mountain, tam him, dṛṣṭvā after seeing, rāmaḥ Rama, lakṣmaṇam to Lakshmana, abravīt said, anēna by him, vaidēhī Vaidehi, sītā Sita, bhakṣitā is eaten, atra in this case, saṅśayaḥ doubt, na no.

On seeing Jatayu looking like the peak of a mountain, Rama said to Lakshmana, There is no doubt that this bird has devoured Vaidehi.
gṛdhrarūpamidaṅ rakṣō vyaktaṅ bhavati kānanē৷৷3.67.11৷৷

bhakṣayitvā viśālākṣīmāstē sītāṅ yathāsukham.

ēnaṅ vadhiṣyē dīptāsyairghōrairbāṇairajihmagaiḥ৷৷3.67.12৷৷


idam this, rakṣaḥ demon, gṛdhrarūpam in the guise of a vulture, kānanē in the forest, bhavati is, vyaktam it is clear, viśālākṣīm large-eyed lady, sītām Sita, bhakṣayitvā after eating away, yathāsukham happily, āstē relaxing, dīptāsyaiḥ glowing tipped, ghōraiḥ terrific, ajihmagaiḥ by those which can go straight, bāṇaiḥ by darts, ēnam him, vadhiṣyē l will kill.

This demon in the guise of a vulture has evidently eaten away the large-eyed Sita and is happily relaxing in the forest. With my terrific arrows with burning tips that can go straight I will kill him.
ityuktvābhyapatadgṛdhraṅ sandhāya dhanuṣi kṣuram.

kruddhō rāmassamudrāntāṅ kampayanniva mēdinīm৷৷3.67.13৷৷


rāmaḥ Rama, iti thus, uktvā saying so, kruddhaḥ in anger, dhanuṣi on the bow, kṣuram sharp arrow, sandhāya after fixing, samudrāntām extending up to the sea, mēdinīm the earth, kampayanniva as though shaking, gṛdhram vulture, abhyapatat fell upon.

Having siad so, Rama took his bow, fixed the sharp arrow, and aimed at the vulture. The sea-bound earth trembled.
taṅ dīnaṅ dīnayā vācā saphēnaṅ rudhiraṅ vaman.

abhyabhāṣata pakṣī tu rāmaṅ daśarathātmajam৷৷3.67.14৷৷


pakṣī tu but the bird, saphēnam foamy, rudhiram blood, vaman vomitting, dīnam in a piteous way, taṅ him, daśarathātmajam Dasaratha's son, rāmam Rama, dīnayā pathetic, vācā with word, abhyabhāṣata spoke these words.

But the vulture who was in a piteous state, vomitting foamy blood, spoke these words pathetically to Rama, son of Dasaratha:
yāmōṣadhimivāyuṣmannanvēṣasi mahāvanē.

sā dēvī mama ca prāṇā rāvaṇēnōbhayaṅ hṛtam৷৷3.67.15৷৷


āyuṣman long-lived one, yām whom, mahāvanē in this great forest, ōṣadhimiva like herbal medicine, anvēṣasi you are searching , sā dēvī that queen, mama my, prāṇāḥ ca life also, ubhayam both, rāvaṇēna by Ravana, hṛtam is taken away.

O Long-lived one ! she who you are searching in the forest like herbal medicine has been carried away by Ravana along with my life.
tvayā virahitā dēvī lakṣmaṇēna ca rāghava.

hriyamāṇā mayā dṛṣṭā rāvaṇēna balīyasā৷৷3.67.16৷৷


rāghava Rama, tvayā by you, lakṣmaṇēna ca and by Lakshmana, virahitā separated, dēvī qeeen, balīyasā by the powerful, rāvaṇēna by Ravana, hriyamāṇā taken away, mayā I have, dṛṣṭā seen.

I have seen her snatched from you and from Lakshmana and carried off by powerful Ravana.
sītāmabhyavapannō.haṅ rāvaṇaśca raṇē mayā.

vidhvaṅsitarathaścātra pātitō dharaṇītalē৷৷3.67.17৷৷


aham I, sītām Sita, abhyavapannaḥ descended down, mayā by me, rāvaṇaśca Ravana, vidhvaṅsitarathaḥ with his chariot destroyed, atra in this place, dharaṇītalē on this ground, pātitaḥ I fell down.

I descended down to protect Sita, and in the battle with Ravana his chariot destroyed fell down here on the ground.
ētadasya dhanurbhagnamētadasya śarāvaram.

ayamasya rathō rāma bhagnasāṅgrāmikō mayā৷৷3.67.18৷৷


rāma Rama, ētat this, asya his, bhagnam broken, dhanuḥ bow, ētat this, asya his, śarāvaram quiver, ayam this, mayā by me, bhagnaḥ shattered, asya his, sāṅgrāmikaḥ battle, rathaḥ chariot.

O Rama this is his broken bow, this is his quiver and this is his war-chariot all devastated by me.
ayaṅ tu sārathistasya matpakṣanihatō yudhi.

pariśrāntasya mē pakṣau chittvā khaḍgēna rāvaṇaḥ৷৷3.67.19৷৷

sītāmādāya vaidēhīmutpapāta vihāyasam.

rakṣasā nihataṅ pūrvaṅ na māṅ hantuṅ tvamarhasi৷৷3.67.20৷৷


ayaṅ tu he is, yudhi in the battle, matpakṣanihataḥ killed by my wings, tasya sārathiḥ his charioteer, rāvaṇaḥ Ravana, pariśrāntasya an exhausted one, mē my, pakṣau both wings, khaḍgēna with a sword, chittvā having cut, vaidēhīm Vaidehi, sītām Sita, ādāya after taking, vihāyasam into the sky, utpapāta flew up, rakṣasā by Ravana, pūrvam earlier, nihatam slain, mām me, tvam you, hantum to kill, nārhasi not proper.

He is Ravana's charioteer slain by my wings in the battle. As I was exhausted in the encounter Ravana clipped my wings, took Sita, and flew into the sky. You need not kill me. I am already slain by the demon.
rāmastasya tu vijñāya bāṣpapūrṇamukhastadā.

dviguṇīkṛtatāpārtassītāsaktāṅ priyāṅ kathām৷৷3.67.21৷৷


tadā then, rāmaḥ Rama, tasya his, sītāsaktām about Sita, priyām dear, kathām facts, vijñāya having, bāṣpapūrṇamukhaḥ face full of tears, dviguṇīkṛtatāpārtaḥ helpless and pitiable due to redoubled sorrow.

Having known from Jatayu the story of his beloved Sita, Rama was full of tears, his grief redoubled.
gṛdhrarājaṅ pariṣvajya parityajya mahaddhanuḥ.

nipapātāvaśō bhūmau rurōda sahalakṣmaṇaḥ৷৷3.67.22৷৷


mahat great, dhanuḥ bow, parityajya giving up, gṛdhrarājam king of birds, pariṣvajya embracing, avaśaḥ despondent, bhūmau on the ground, nipapāta fell down, sahalakṣmaṇaḥ along with Lakshmana, rurōda cried.

Rama dropped the bow and embraced the king of birds. He fell down despondent on the ground and began crying along with Lakshmana.
ēkamēkāyanē durgē niśśvasantaṅ kathañcana.

samīkṣya duḥkhitatarō rāmassaumitrimabravīt৷৷3.67.23৷৷


durgē in a place difficult to reach, ēkāyanē in a solitary place, ēkam lonely, kathañcana with great difficulty, niśśvasantam sighing, samīkṣya on observing, rāmaḥ Rama, duḥkhitataraḥ overcome by greater grief, saumitrim Saumitri, abravīt said.

Rama saw Jatayu breathing with difficulty in that solitary, inaccessible place.Overcome by greater grief he said to Lakshmana:
rājyaṅ bhraṣṭaṅ vanē vāsassītā naṣṭā hatō dvijaḥ.

īdṛśīyaṅ mamālakṣmīrnirdahēdapi pāvakam৷৷3.67.24৷৷


rājyam kingdom, bhraṣṭam expelled, vanē forest, vāsaḥ dwelling, sītā Sita, naṣṭā lost, dvijaḥ Jatayu, hataḥ is slain, mama me, īdṛśī this kind of, alakṣmīḥ bad luck, pāvakamapi even fire, nirdahēt it will burn.

I have been expelled from the kingdom. I am made to stay in the forest. I have lost Sita (my beloved wife). This bird (who was my well-wisher) has been slain. Such misfortune will burn even fire.
sampūrṇamapi cēdadya praviśēyaṅ mahōdadhim.

sō.pi nūnaṅ mamālakṣmyā viśuṣyētsaritāṅpatiḥ৷৷3.67.25৷৷


adya now, sampūrṇam full, mahōdadhim api even the great sea also, praviśēyaṅ cēt if I enter, saḥ that, saritāṅ patiḥ api even the lord of rivers, sea, mama me, alakṣmā misfortune, viśuṣyēt will dry up.

Now if I enter even the great sea, the lord of the rivers filled with water, it will also dry up due to my misfortune.
nāstyabhāgyatarō lōkē mattō.sminsacarācarē.

yēnēyaṅ mahatī prāptā mayā vyasanavāgurā৷৷3.67.26৷৷


yēna mayā by me this way, iyam this kind, mahatī great, vyasanavāgurā snare of misfortunes, prāptā attained, mattaḥ more than me, abhāgyataraḥ more unlucky, sacarācarē among animate and inanimate, asmin in this, lōkē world, nāsti not there.

In this world of the animate and the inanimate there is no one more unfortunate than me fallen into the trap of adversities.
ayaṅ pitṛvayasyō mē gṛdhrarājō jarānvitaḥ.

śētē vinihatō bhūmau mama bhāgyaviparyayāt৷৷3.67.27৷৷


mē my, pitṛvayasyaḥ father's friend, jarānvitaḥ in old age, ayam he is, gṛdhrarājaḥ king of birds, mama of me, bhāgyaviparyayāt by my misfortune, vinihataḥ was slain, bhūmau ground, śētē lying.

This aged king of birds is my father's friend. To my ill-luck, he is struck down and is lying on the ground.
ityēvamuktvā bahuśō rāghavassahalakṣmaṇaḥ.

jaṭāyuṣaṅ ca pasparśa pitṛsnēhaṅ vidarśayan৷৷3.67.28৷৷


rāghavaḥ Rama, ityēvam in this manner, bahuśaḥ many times, uktvā after telling, sahalakṣmaṇaḥ along with Lakshmana, pitṛsnēham filiat affection, vidarśayan showing, jaṭāyuṣam Jatayu, pasparśa caressed.

Saying such words and showing filial affection, he caressed Jatayu repeatedly with Lakshmana.
nikṛttapakṣaṅ rudhirāvasiktaṅ sa gṛdhrarājaṅ parirabhya rāmaḥ.

kva maithilī prāṇasamā mamēti vimucya vācaṅ nipapāta bhūmau৷৷3.67.29৷৷


saḥ rāmaḥ that Rama, nikṛttapakṣam severed wings, rudhirāvasiktam drenched in blood, gṛdhrarājam king of vultures, parirabhya hugging, mama my, prāṇasamā equal to my life, maithilī Maithili, kva where, iti this, vācam speaking, vimucya bhūmau leaving the ground, nipapāta fell down.

Rama hugged the king of vultures with servered wings, drenched in blood and asking him where Sita who was as dear to him as his life was, he dropped him and fell down on the ground.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē saptaṣaṣṭitamassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the sixtyseventh sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.