Sitting on a tree half asleep, Jatayu heard Sita. With a large body, a sharp beak and talons like razors he was a majestic bird. He spoke to Ravana from where he sat, "Ravana! I believe in the age old laws of dharma and I never deviate from truth. I am Jatayu king of eagles. Rama is the prince of Kosala, son of Dasaratha and an equal of Indra and Varuna in might. He is the lord and protector of all creation. She, whom you seek to carry away, is Rama's wedded wife. How could any king, bound by dharma defile the wife of another? And a king's wife at that! It is a detestable act of shame Ravana. Even the thought of touching another's wife is a sin. A wise man desists from villainy, for fear of condemnation from his fellow men. One must protect the wife of another, as he would his own. You are sinful by nature and evil is your pastime. Do you forget that you are the son of the great king Paulatsya? Noble rulers of the earth desist from any act of dharma, artha or Kama that is not sanctioned by the scriptures. Their exemplary conduct should be the ideal of their subjects. The nature and the traits of man are determined at birth and cannot be erased. Short lived are memories of sound counsel in the minds of the wicked. Rama is not guilty of any offence in your country, how can you harm him who has not even glanced at your kingdom? Do you steal Sita to avenge Khara's death? Khara came to Janasthana because of Surpanakha, and he was slain because he over stepped his limits. How can you blame Rama for that? Release Sita this instant! May not Rama incinerate you with his fiery looks like he did Vitrasura! Hostility with Rama is as hazardous as carrying a venomous snake and as foolish as tightening the noose around your neck. Man should not carry more weight than he can bear, or eat more than he can digest. Who will undertake a mission that earns him neither name nor fame, but only grief? Listen, king! For sixty thousand years I have reigned over the land of eagles. I am old and unarmed, you are young and armed. To protect you, you have armor and to carry you, you have a chariot yet you will not dare to carry Sita. If you do, you will not leave here safely. Fight me and show me your strength. May you drop dead like Khara! Rama's arrows will soon kill you or you may even perish at the very news of their arrival! While I am still alive there is no way you can abduct Sita. I will serve Dasaratha and Rama even at the cost of my life. Tarry a moment Ravana and I shall offer you the hospitality of war and knock you down from your chariot".
Summary
Sitting on a tree half asleep, Jatayu heard Sita. With a large body, a sharp beak and talons like razors he was a majestic bird. He spoke to Ravana from where he sat, "Ravana! I believe in the age old laws of dharma and I never deviate from truth. I am Jatayu king of eagles. Rama is the prince of Kosala, son of Dasaratha and an equal of Indra and Varuna in might. He is the lord and protector of all creation. She, whom you seek to carry away, is Rama's wedded wife. How could any king, bound by dharma defile the wife of another? And a king's wife at that! It is a detestable act of shame Ravana. Even the thought of touching another's wife is a sin. A wise man desists from villainy, for fear of condemnation from his fellow men. One must protect the wife of another, as he would his own. You are sinful by nature and evil is your pastime. Do you forget that you are the son of the great king Paulatsya? Noble rulers of the earth desist from any act of dharma, artha or Kama that is not sanctioned by the scriptures. Their exemplary conduct should be the ideal of their subjects. The nature and the traits of man are determined at birth and cannot be erased. Short lived are memories of sound counsel in the minds of the wicked. Rama is not guilty of any offence in your country, how can you harm him who has not even glanced at your kingdom? Do you steal Sita to avenge Khara's death? Khara came to Janasthana because of Surpanakha, and he was slain because he over stepped his limits. How can you blame Rama for that? Release Sita this instant! May not Rama incinerate you with his fiery looks like he did Vitrasura! Hostility with Rama is as hazardous as carrying a venomous snake and as foolish as tightening the noose around your neck. Man should not carry more weight than he can bear, or eat more than he can digest. Who will undertake a mission that earns him neither name nor fame, but only grief? Listen, king! For sixty thousand years I have reigned over the land of eagles. I am old and unarmed, you are young and armed. To protect you, you have armor and to carry you, you have a chariot yet you will not dare to carry Sita. If you do, you will not leave here safely. Fight me and show me your strength. May you drop dead like Khara! Rama's arrows will soon kill you or you may even perish at the very news of their arrival! While I am still alive there is no way you can abduct Sita. I will serve Dasaratha and Rama even at the cost of my life. Tarry a moment Ravana and I shall offer you the hospitality of war and knock you down from your chariot".