Jatayu's Battle with Ravana
Jatayu fearlessly challenges Ravana in order to protect Sita. In this battle fought for righteousness, he is grievously wounded.
Aranya Kand · Episode 13 / 18
Episode Text
गीधराज सुनि आरत बानी। रघुकुलतिलक नारि पहिचानी॥ अधम निसाचर लीन्हें जाई। जिमि मलेछ बस कपिला गाई॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
gīdharāja suni ārata bānī। raghukulatilaka nāri pahicānī॥ adhama nisācara līnheṃ jāī। jimi malecha basa kapilā gāī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
The king of vultures, Jatayu, hearing Sita’s distressed cry, recognized her as the wife of Sri Ramachandra, the ornament of Raghu’s line. He saw that the vile demon was carrying her off, as though a Kapila cow had fallen under a mleccha’s control.
सीते पुत्रि करसि जनि त्रासा। करिहउँ जातुधान कर नासा॥ धावा क्रोधवंत खग कैसें। छूटइ पबि परबत कहुँ जैसें॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sīte putri karasi jani trāsā। karihaūṃ jātudhāna kara nāsā॥ dhāvā krodhavanta khaga kaisẽ। chūṭai pabi parabata kahuṃ jaisẽ॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
He said, ‘O Sita, my daughter, do not be afraid. I shall destroy this demon.’ Saying this, the bird rushed forward in fury, like a thunderbolt hurtling toward a mountain.
रे रे दुष्ट ठाढ़ किन होही। निर्भय चलेसि न जानेहि मोही॥ आवत देखि कृतांत समाना। फिरि दसकंधर कर अनुमाना॥ ६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
re re duṣṭa ṭhāṛha kina hohī। nirbhaya calesi na jānehi mohī॥ āvata dekhi kṛtāṃta samānā। phiri dasakandhara kara anumānā॥ 6 ॥
Meaning:
He shouted, ‘Hey, wicked one, why do you not stand still? You went off fearless and did not know me!’ Seeing him approaching like Death himself, Ravana turned and reasoned within himself.
की मैनाक कि खगपति होई। मम बल जान सहित पति सोई॥ जाना जरठ जटायू एहा। मम कर तीरथ छाँड़िहि देहा॥ ७ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kī maināka ki khagapati hoī। mama bala jāna sahita pati soī॥ jānā jaraṭha jaṭāyū ehā। mama kara tīratha chāṃṛihi dehā॥ 7 ॥
Meaning:
‘This may be either Mainaka or the lord of birds. But he, along with his lord Vishnu, knows my strength!’ As it came closer, Ravana recognized it and said, ‘This is the old Jatayu! He will leave his body in my hands, which are a holy place.’
सुनत गीध क्रोधातुर धावा। कह सुनु रावन मोर सिखावा॥ तजि जानकिहि कुसल गृह जाहू। नाहिं त अस होइहि बहुबाहू॥ ८ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sunata gīdha krodhātura dhāvā। kaha suni rāvana mora sikhāvā॥ taji jānakihi kusala gṛha jāhū। nāhiṃ ta asa hoihi bahubāhū॥ 8 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing this, the vulture, filled with anger, rushed forward and said, ‘Listen, Ravana, to my warning. Leave Janaki and go home in peace. Otherwise, O mighty-armed one, it will be as follows—’
राम रोष पावक अति घोरा। होइहि सकल सलभ कुल तोरा॥ उतरु न देत दसानन जोधा। तबहिं गीध धावा करि क्रोधा॥ ९ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma roṣa pāvaka ati ghorā। hoihi sakala salabha kula torā॥ utaru na deta dasānana yodhā। tabahiṃ gīdha dhāvā kari krodhā॥ 9 ॥
Meaning:
In the exceedingly terrible fire of Sri Rama’s wrath, your entire line will become moths and be reduced to ashes. The warrior Ravana gave no reply. Then the vulture rushed forward in anger.
धरि कच बिरथ कीन्ह महि गिरा। सीतहि राखि गीध पुनि फिरा॥ चोचन्ह मारि बिदारेसि देही। दंड एक भइ मुरुछा तेही॥ १० ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dhari kaca biratha kīna mahi girā। sītahi rākhi gīdha puni phirā॥ cochanha māri bidāresi dehī। daṃḍa eka bhai muruchā tehī॥ 10 ॥
Meaning:
Grasping Ravana by the hair, he brought him down from the chariot, and Ravana fell to the earth. The vulture set Sita aside and returned, then struck again and again with his beak, tearing Ravana’s body apart. This caused him to swoon for a moment.
तब सक्रोध निसिचर खिसिआना। काढ़ेसि परम कराल कृपाना॥ काटेसि पंख परा खग धरनी। सुमिरि राम करि अदभुत करनी॥ ११ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
taba sakrodha nisichara khisiyānā। kāṛhesi parama karāla kṛpānā॥ kāṭesi paṃkha parā khaga dharanī। sumiri rāma kari adabhuta karanī॥ 11 ॥
Meaning:
Then the irritated Ravana, enraged, drew out a most terrible dagger and cut off Jatayu’s wings. Remembering Sri Rama’s wondrous deed, the bird fell to the earth.
सीतहि जान चढ़ाइ बहोरी। चला उताइल त्रास न थोरी॥ करति बिलाप जाति नभ सीता। ब्याध बिबस जनु मृगी सभीता॥ १२ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sītahi jāna caṛhāi bahorī। calā utāila trāsa na thorī॥ karati bilāpa jāti nabha sītā। byādha bibasa janu mṛgī sabhītā॥ 12 ॥
Meaning:
Ravana again placed Sita on the chariot and hurried onward in great haste, though his fear did not lessen. Sita goes through the sky lamenting, like a frightened doe fallen under the hunter’s power.
गिरि पर बैठे कपिन्ह निहारी। कहि हरि नाम दीन्ह पट डारी॥ एहि बिधि सीतहि सो लै गयऊ। बन असोक महँ राखत भयऊ॥ १३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
giri para baiṭhe kapinha nihārī। kahi hari nāma dīna paṭa ḍārī॥ ehi bidhi sītahi so lai gayaū। bana asoka mahaṃ rākhata bhayaū॥ 13 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing the monkeys seated on the mountain, Sita uttered the name of Hari and let down a cloth. In this way he carried Sita away and placed her in the Ashoka grove.
हारि परा खल बहु बिधि भय अरु प्रीति देखाइ। तब असोक पादप तर राखिसि जतन कराइ॥ २९ (क) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
hāri parā khala bahu bidhi bhaya aru prīti dikhāi। taba asoka pādapa tara rākhisi jatana karāi॥ 29 (a) ॥
Meaning:
After showing fear and affection to Sita in many ways, when that wicked one was defeated, he had her carefully placed beneath the Ashoka tree.
जेहि बिधि कपट कुरंग सँग धाइ चले श्रीराम। सो छबि सीता राखि उर रटति रहति हरिनाम॥ २९ (ख) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jehi bidhi kapaṭa kuraṅga saṅga dhāi cale śrīrāma। so chabi sītā rākhi ura raṭati rahati harināma॥ 29 (b) ॥
Meaning:
Keeping in her heart the image of how Sri Rama ran after the deceitful deer, she keeps repeating the name of Hari.