Rama's Lament and Jatayu's Final Moments
In Sita's separation, Rama wanders the forest in deep anguish while searching for her. He then finds Jatayu, who reveals Ravana's deed in his final moments and attains blessed release through the Lord's grace.
Aranya Kand · Episode 14 / 18
Episode Text
रघुपति अनुजहि आवत देखी। बाहिज चिंता कीन्हि बिसेषी॥ जनकसुता परिहरिहु अकेली। आयहु तात बचन मम पेली॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
raghupati anujahi āvata dekhī। bāhija cintā kīnhi visheṣī॥ janakasutā pariharihu akelī। āyahu tāta bacana mama pelī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Meanwhile, when Lord Raghupati saw his younger brother Lakshmana coming, he showed great concern and said, ‘Brother, you have left Janaki alone and have come here, disobeying my command.’
निसिचर निकर फिरहिं बन माहीं। मम मन सीता आश्रम नाहीं॥ गहि पद कमल अनुज कर जोरी। कहेउ नाथ कछु मोहि न खोरी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nisichara nikara firahiṃ bana māhīṃ। mama mana sītā āśrama nāhīṃ॥ gahi pada kamala anuja kara jorī। kaheu nātha kachu mohi na khorī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Hosts of demons roam about in the forest. My mind tells me that Sita is not in the hermitage. Lakshmana then grasped Rama’s lotus feet and, with folded hands, said, ‘Lord, I have no fault at all.’
अनुज समेत गए प्रभु तहवाँ। गोदावरि तट आश्रम जहवाँ॥ आश्रम देखि जानकी हीना। भए बिकल जस प्राकृत दीना॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
anuja sameta gae prabhu tahavāṃ। godāvari taṭa āśrama jahavāṃ॥ āśrama dekhi jānakī hīnā। bhae bikala jasa prākṛta dīnā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Lord Sri Rama went there with Lakshmana, to the hermitage on the bank of the Godavari. Seeing the hermitage bereft of Janaki, Rama became distraught and grief-stricken like an ordinary man.
हा गुन खानि जानकी सीता। रूप सील ब्रत नेम पुनीता॥ लछिमन समुझाए बहु भाँती। पूछत चले लता तरु पाँती॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
hā guna khāni jānakī sītā। rūpa sīla brata nema punītā॥ lachimana samujhāe bahu bhāṃtī। pūchata cale latā taru pāṃtī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Alas, treasure-house of virtues, Janaki Sita, pure in beauty, character, vows, and discipline! Lakshmana tried to console him in many ways. Then Sri Rama walked on, asking the creepers and rows of trees.
हे खग मृग हे मधुकर श्रेनी। तुम्ह देखी सीता मृगनैनी॥ खंजन सुक कपोत मृग मीना। मधुप निकर कोकिला प्रबीना॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
he khaga mṛga he madhukara śrenī। tumha dekhī sītā mṛganainī॥ khaṃjana suka kapota mṛga mīnā। madhupa nikara kokilā pratīnā॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
O birds! O beasts! O rows of bees! Have you seen the deer-eyed Sita कहीं? O wagtails, parrots, pigeons, deer, fish, swarms of bees, and expert cuckoos—
कुंद कली दाड़िम दामिनी। कमल सरद ससि अहिभामिनी॥ बरुन पास मनोज धनु हंसा। गज केहरि निज सुनत प्रसंसा॥ ६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kunda kalī dāṛima dāminī। kamala sarada sasi ahibhāminī॥ baruna pāsa manoja dhanu haṃsā। gaja kehari nija sunata prasaṃsā॥ 6 ॥
Meaning:
Jasmine bud, pomegranate, lightning, lotus, the autumn moon, and serpent-woman; Varuna’s noose, Cupid’s bow, swan, elephant, and lion—all these are hearing their own praise today.
श्रीफल कनक कदलि हरषाहीं। नेकु न संक सकुच मन माहीं॥ सुनु जानकी तोहि बिनु आजू। हरषे सकल पाइ जनु राजू॥ ७ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
śrīphala kanaka kadali haraṣāhīṃ। neku na saṃka sakuca mana māhīṃ॥ sunu jānakī tohi binu ājū। haraṣe sakala pāi janu rājū॥ 7 ॥
Meaning:
The coconut, gold, and banana are rejoicing. There is not the slightest hesitation or shyness in their minds. O Janaki, listen: without you, all these are rejoicing today as though they had won a kingdom.
किमि सहि जात अनख तोहि पाहीं। प्रिया बेगि प्रगटसि कस नाहीं॥ एहि बिधि खोजत बिलपत स्वामी। मनहु महा बिरही अति कामी॥ ८ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kimi sahi jāta anakha tohi pāhīṃ। priyā begi pragaṭasi kasa nāhīṃ॥ ehi bidhi khojata bilapata svāmī। manahu mahā birahī ati kāmī॥ 8 ॥
Meaning:
How can this resentment be borne in your presence? Beloved, why do you not appear at once? In this way the Lord searches and laments, as though he were a great lover, burning with separation and longing.
पूरनकाम राम सुख रासी। मनुजचरित कर अज अबिनासी॥ आगें परा गीधपति देखा। सुमिरत राम चरन जिन्ह रेखा॥ ९ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
pūrnakāma rāma sukha rāsī। manujacarita kara aja abināsī॥ agẽ parā gīdhapati dekhā। sumirata rāma carana jinha rekhā॥ 9 ॥
Meaning:
Rama, complete in all desires and an ocean of bliss, though unborn and imperishable, was moving in human-like conduct. Ahead he saw the lord of vultures, Jatayu, lying there, remembering Rama’s feet marked with lines.
कर सरोज सिर परसेउ कृपासिंधु रघुबीर। निरखि राम छबि धाम मुख बिगत भई सब पीर॥ ३० ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kara saroja sira parasieu kṛpāsindhu raghubīra। nirakhi rāma chabi dhāma mukha bigata bhaī saba pīra॥ 30 ॥
Meaning:
The ocean of mercy, Raghubira, touched his head with his lotus hand. Seeing Rama, the abode of beauty, all his pain vanished.
तब कह गीध बचन धरि धीरा। सुनहु राम भंजन भव भीरा॥ नाथ दसानन यह गति कीन्ही। तेहिं खल जनकसुता हरि लीन्ही॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
taba kaha gīdha bacana dhari dhīrā। sunahu rāma bhañjana bhava bhīrā॥ ātha dasānana yaha gati kīnhī। tehiṃ khala janakasutā hari līnhī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Then the vulture, gathering his composure, spoke these words: "Listen, Rama, destroyer of the fear of worldly existence. O Lord, Ravana has brought me to this condition; that wicked one has carried off Janaki."
लै दच्छिन दिसि गयउ गोसाईं। बिलपति अति कुररी की नाईं॥ दरस लागि प्रभु राखेउँ प्राना। चलन चहत अब कृपानिधाना॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
lai dachchina disi gayau gosāīṃ। bilapati ati kurarī kī nāīṃ॥ darasa lāgi prabhu rākheuṃ prānā। calana cahata aba kṛpānidhānā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
O Gosain, he has taken her to the southern direction. Sita was lamenting greatly like a kurari bird. O Lord, I kept my life only for the sake of your sight. O ocean of mercy, now I wish to depart.
राम कहा तनु राखहु ताता। मुख मुसुकाइ कही तेहिं बाता॥ जा कर नाम मरत मुख आवा। अधमउ मुकुत होइ श्रुति गावा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma kahā tanu rākhahu tātā। mukha musukāi kahī tehiṃ bātā॥ jā kara nāma marata mukha āvā। adhamau mukuta hoi śruti gāvā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Rama said, "Keep your body, dear one." Then, smiling, he said these words: "The Vedas declare that even the lowest sinner attains liberation if the Name comes to the mouth at the moment of death."
सो मम लोचन गोचर आगें। राखौं देह नाथ केहि खाँगें॥ जल भरि नयन कहहिं रघुराई। तात कर्म निज तें गति पाई॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
so mama locana gocara āgeṃ। rākhauṃ deha nātha kehi khāṅgeṃ॥ jala bhari nayana kahahiṃ raghurāī। tāta karma nija teṃ gati pāī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
You alone stand before me as the object of my eyes. O Lord, what need is there for me to keep this body now? With tears filling his eyes, Raghunath said, "Dear one, by your own righteous deeds you have attained this rare state."
परहित बस जिन्ह के मन माहीं। तिन्ह कहुँ जग दुर्लभ कछु नाहीं॥ तनु तजि तात जाहु मम धामा। देउँ काह तुम्ह पूरनकामा॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
parahita basa jinha ke mana māhīṃ। tinha kahuṃ jaga durlabha kachu nāhīṃ॥ tanu taji tāta jāhu mama dhāmā। deūṃ kāha tumha pūranakāmā॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
For those whose hearts dwell on the welfare of others, nothing in the world is unattainable. O dear one, give up the body and go to my abode. What can I give you? You are already पूर्णकाम, fulfilled in all things.
सीता हरन तात जनि कहहु पिता सन जाइ। जौं मैं राम त कुल सहित कहिहि दसानन आइ॥ ३१ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sītā harana tāta jani kahahu pitā sana jāi। jaũ main rāma ta kula sahita kahihi dasānana āi॥ 31 ॥
Meaning:
O dear one, do not go and tell father about Sita's abduction. If I am Rama, then Ravana, together with his clan, will come there and say it himself.
गीध देह तजि धरि हरि रूपा। भूषन बहु पट पीत अनूपा॥ स्याम गात बिसाल भुज चारी। अस्तुति करत नयन भरि बारी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
gīdha deha taji dhari hari rūpā। bhūṣana bahu paṭa pīta anūpā॥ syāma gāta bisāla bhuja cārī। astuti karata nayana bhari bārī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Abandoning the vulture's body, Jatayu assumed the form of Hari. He wore many incomparable ornaments and a splendid yellow garment. His body was dark-hued, with four broad arms, and with tears of devotion filling his eyes, he was offering praise.
जय राम रूप अनूप निर्गुन सगुन गुन प्रेरक सही। दससीस बाहु प्रचंड खंडन चंड सर मंडन मही॥ पाथोद गात सरोज मुख राजीव आयत लोचनं। नित नौमि रामु कृपाल बाहु बिसाल भव भय मोचनं॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jaya rāma rūpa anūpa nirguna saguna guna preraka sahī। dasasīsa bāhu pracaṃḍa khaṃḍana caṃḍa sara maṃḍana mahī॥ pāthoda gāta saroja mukha rājīva āyata locanaṃ। nita naumi rāmu kṛpāla bāhu bisāla bhava bhaya mocanaṃ॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Victory to Rama, whose form is incomparable; who is beyond गुण and yet endowed with गुण; truly the mover of qualities. With mighty arrows He shattered the powerful arms of Ravana, the ten-headed one; He adorns the earth; He has a dark body like a rain-filled cloud; a lotus-like face and wide lotus-like eyes; broad arms; and He frees beings from the fear of worldly existence. To that merciful Rama I bow every day.
बलमप्रमेयमनादिमजमब्यक्तमेकमगोचरं। गोबिंद गोपर द्वंद्वहर बिग्यानघन धरनीधरं॥ जे राम मंत्र जपंत संत अनंत जन मन रंजनं। नित नौमि राम अकाम प्रिय कामादि खल दल गंजनं॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
balamaprameyamanādimajamabyaktamekamagocaraṃ। gobinda gopara dvandvahara bigyānaghana dharanīdharaṃ॥ je rāma maṃtra japanta santa ananta jana mana raṃjanaṃ। nita naumi rāma akāma priya kāmādi khala dala gaṃjanaṃ॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
You are of immeasurable strength, without beginning, unborn, unmanifest, one, beyond the senses, Govinda, protector of the cows, beyond duality, a dense embodiment of wisdom, and the supporter of the earth. You delight the minds of the endless devotees who chant the Rama-mantra. To Rama, free from desire, beloved of the desireless, and the destroyer of the hosts of lust and other evil forces, I bow every day.
जेहि श्रुति निरंजन ब्रह्म ब्यापक बिरज अज कहि गावहीं। करि ध्यान ग्यान बिराग जोग अनेक मुनि जेहि पावहीं॥ सो प्रगट करुना कंद सोभा बृंद अग जग मोहई। मम हृदय पंकज भृंग अंग अनंग बहु छबि सोहई॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jehi śruti nirañjana brahma byāpaka biraja aja kahi gāvahīṃ। kari dhyāna gyāna birāga joga aneka muni jehi pāvahīṃ॥ so pragaṭa karunā kanda sobhā bṛnda aga jaga mohaī। mama hṛdaya paṃkaja bhṛṃga aṃga anaṃga bahu chabi sohaī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
The Vedas sing of Him as stainless, Brahman, all-pervading, pure, and unborn. By meditation, knowledge, detachment, yoga, and many other disciplines, sages attain Him. That same fountain of compassion has now become manifest, enchanting the entire world of the moving and unmoving. In the lotus of my heart, His bee-like devotee finds every limb adorned with countless beautiful forms of Cupid.
जो अगम सुगम सुभाव निर्मल असम सम सीतल सदा। पस्यंति जं जोगी जतन करि करत मन गो बस सदा॥ सो राम रमा निवास संतत दास बस त्रिभुवन धनी। मम उर बसउ सो समन संसृति जासु कीरति पावनी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jo agama sugama subhāva nirmala asama sama sītala sadā। pasyanti jaṃ yogī jatana kari karata mana go basa sadā॥ so rāma ramā nivāsa saṃtata dāsa basa tribhuvana dhanī। mama ura basau so samana saṃsṛti jāsu kīrati pāvanī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
He who is inaccessible yet easy to attain, of pure nature, beyond sameness and difference, and ever cool and serene; whom yogis behold only after great effort while keeping mind and senses under control—may that Rama, the abode of Lakshmi and lord of the three worlds, forever subdued by the love of His devotees, dwell in my heart. His holy fame destroys the cycle of birth and death.
अबिरल भगति मागि बर गीध गयउ हरिधाम। तेहि की क्रिया जथोचित निज कर कीन्ही राम॥ ३२ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
abirala bhagati māgi bara gīdha gayau haridhāma। tehi kī kriyā jathocita nija kara kīnhī rāma॥ 32 ॥
Meaning:
Having asked for the boon of uninterrupted devotion, King of the vultures Jatayu went to Hari's divine abode. Rama Himself performed his rites in the proper way with His own hands.