महाभारतम् — ३.२६३

मार्कण्डेय उवाच ।

सखा दशरथस्यासीज्जटायुररुणात्मजः ।
गृध्रराजो महावीर्यः संपातिर्यस्य सोदरः ॥

M N Dutt Markandeya said : The highly-powerful lord of the vultures, Jatayu, the son of Aruna and the brother of Sampati was a friend of Dasharatha's.

३.२६३.२

स ददर्श तदा सीतां रावणाङ्कगतां स्नुषाम् ।
क्रोधादभ्यद्रवत्पक्षी रावणं राक्षसेश्वरम् ॥

M N Dutt (When) that bird saw his daughter-in-law in the arms of Ravana he furiously rushed against the lord of the Rakshasas.

३.२६३.३

अथैनमब्रवीद्गृध्रो मुञ्च मुञ्चेति मैथिलीम् ।
ध्रियमाणे मयि कथं हरिष्यसि निशाचर ।
न हि मे मोक्ष्यसे जीवन्यदि नोत्सृजसे वधूम् ॥

M N Dutt The vulture then said to him "let go the princess of Mithila; leave her. O night-ranger, how can you carry her off when I am alive?

३.२६३.४

उक्त्वैवं राक्षसेन्द्रं तं चकर्त नखरैर्भृशम् ।
पक्षतुण्डप्रहारैश्च बहुशो जर्जरीकृतः ।
चक्षार रुधिरं भूरि गिरिः प्रस्रवणैरिव ॥

M N Dutt By striking him with wings and beak several times, he (frightfully) lacerated (Ravana). And blood began to gush (out of his body) as copiously as waters from a mountain-spring.

३.२६३.५

स वध्यमानो गृध्रेण रामप्रियहितैषिणा ।
खड्गमादाय चिच्छेद भुजौ तस्य पतत्रिणः ॥

M N Dutt Thus struck by the vulture, the well-wisher of Rama, he (Ravana) taking up his sword cut off the wings of that feathery creature.

३.२६३.६

निहत्य गृध्रराजं स छिन्नाभ्रशिखरोपमम् ।
ऊर्ध्वमाचक्रमे सीतां गृहीत्वाङ्केन राक्षसः ॥

M N Dutt Having killed that king of the vultures resembling a mountain peak penetrating through the clouds, the Rakshasa with Sita on his lap rose up (in the air).

३.२६३.७

यत्र यत्र तु वैदेही पश्यत्याश्रममण्डलम् ।
सरो वा सरितं वापि तत्र मुञ्चति भूषणम् ॥

M N Dutt Wherever the Princess of Vaidehi beheld a hermitage, a lake or a river, she threw down there an ornament.

३.२६३.८

सा ददर्श गिरिप्रस्थे पञ्च वानरपुंगवान् ।
तत्र वासो महद्दिव्यमुत्ससर्ज मनस्विनी ॥

M N Dutt That intelligent lady saw on a mountainpeak five foremost of monkeys and there she threw down a highly beautiful piece of cloth.

३.२६३.९

तत्तेषां वानरेन्द्राणां पपात पवनोद्धुतम् ।
मध्ये सुपीतं पञ्चानां विद्युन्मेघान्तरे यथा ॥

M N Dutt And like lightning (playing) among the (dark) clouds that beautiful and yellow (cloth) fluttering through the air fell down among those five (dark-coloured monkeys).

३.२६३.१०

एवं हृतायां वैदेह्यां रामो हत्वा महामृगम् ।
निवृत्तो ददृशे धीमान्भ्रातरं लक्ष्मणं तदा ॥

M N Dutt The princess of Videha being thus carried off, the intelligent Rama having slain the great deer on his way back met his brother Lakshmana.

३.२६३.११

कथमुत्सृज्य वैदेहीं वने राक्षससेविते ।
इत्येवं भ्रातरं दृष्ट्वा प्राप्तोऽसीति व्यगर्हयत् ॥

M N Dutt Beholding his brother, (Rama) said to him with a rebuke "How could you leave alone the princess of Videha in the forest frequented by the Rakshasas"?

३.२६३.१२

मृगरूपधरेणाथ रक्षसा सोऽपकर्षणम् ।
भ्रातुरागमनं चैव चिन्तयन्पर्यतप्यत ॥

M N Dutt And he was greatly afflicted with grief thinking of his being allured to a great distance by the Rakshasa assuming the form of a deer and of the arrival of his brother (leaving Sita alone).

३.२६३.१३

गर्हयन्नेव रामस्तु त्वरितस्तं समासदत् ।
अपि जीवति वैदेही नेति पश्यामि लक्ष्मण ॥

M N Dutt Having quickly come upto Lakshmana whom he was still reproving, he said “O Lakshmana, is the princess of Videha still alive? I am afraid I shall see her no more."

३.२६३.१४

तस्य तत्सर्वमाचख्यौ सीताया लक्ष्मणो वचः ।
यदुक्तवत्यसदृशं वैदेही पश्चिमं वचः ॥

M N Dutt Lakshmana then informed Rama of everything that Sita had said to him, especially the harsh words with which she subsequently rebuked him.

३.२६३.१५

दह्यमानेन तु हृदा रामोऽभ्यपतदाश्रमम् ।
स ददर्श तदा गृध्रं निहतं पर्वतोपमम् ॥

M N Dutt Rama then with a burning heart quickly proceeded forwards the hermitage and (on the way) he beheld the vulture, huge as mountain, in his last moments.

३.२६३.१६

राक्षसं शङ्कमानस्तु विकृष्य बलवद्धनुः ।
अभ्यधावत काकुत्स्थस्ततस्तं सहलक्ष्मणः ॥

M N Dutt Suspecting him to be a Rakshasa, the descendant of Kakustha drawing his bow powerfully, rushed at him with Lakshmana.

३.२६३.१७

स तावुवाच तेजस्वी सहितौ रामलक्ष्मणौ ।
गृध्रराजोऽस्मि भद्रं वां सखा दशरथस्य ह ॥

M N Dutt The spirited (vulture) then said to Rama and Lakshmana. “All hail to you, I am the king of the vultures and a friend of Dasharatha's."

३.२६३.१८

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा संगृह्य धनुषी शुभे ।
कोऽयं पितरमस्माकं नाम्नाहेत्यूचतुश्च तौ ॥

M N Dutt Thus addressed by him, they put their auspicious bows aside and said "who is this one that is mentioning the name of our father?”

३.२६३.१९

ततो ददृशतुस्तौ तं छिन्नपक्षद्वयं तथा ।
तयोः शशंस गृध्रस्तु सीतार्थे रावणाद्वधम् ॥

M N Dutt Then they both beheld the bird with its wings cut off; and the vulture related to him as to how he came by death while attempting to rescue Sita.

३.२६३.२०

अपृच्छद्राघवो गृध्रं रावणः कां दिशं गतः ।
तस्य गृध्रः शिरःकम्पैराचचक्षे ममार च ॥

M N Dutt Rama then asked the vultures as to the way taken by Ravana. But the vulture indicated it by a nod of the head and then passed away.

३.२६३.२१

दक्षिणामिति काकुत्स्थो विदित्वास्य तदिङ्गितम् ।
संस्कारं लम्भयामास सखायं पूजयन्पितुः ॥

M N Dutt Knowing from the sign made by the vulture that it was the south (towards which Ravana had gone) the descendant of Kakustha, out of regard for his father's friend, caused his last rites to be performed.

३.२६३.२२

ततो दृष्ट्वाश्रमपदं व्यपविद्धबृसीघटम् ।
विध्वस्तकलशं शून्यं गोमायुबलसेवितम् ॥

M N Dutt Then beholding (on their way) many hermitages, scattered all over with seats of Kusha grass and umbrellas of leaves, broken jars of water, devoid of inmates and abounding with hundreds of Jackals,

३.२६३.२३

दुःखशोकसमाविष्टौ वैदेहीहरणार्दितौ ।
जग्मतुर्दण्डकारण्यं दक्षिणेन परंतपौ ॥

M N Dutt Those tormentors of foes afflicted with distraction and grief at the abduction of Sita a proceeded towards the south of the forest Dandaka.

३.२६३.२४

वने महति तस्मिंस्तु रामः सौमित्रिणा सह ।
ददर्श मृगयूथानि द्रवमाणानि सर्वशः ।
शब्दं च घोरं सत्त्वानां दावाग्नेरिव वर्धतः ॥

M N Dutt In that great forest Rama together with the son of Sumitra (Lakshmana) saw many herds of deer flying in all directions.

३.२६३.२५

अपश्येतां मुहूर्ताच्च कबन्धं घोरदर्शनम् ।
मेघपर्वतसंकाशं शालस्कन्धं महाभुजम् ।
उरोगतविशालाक्षं महोदरमहामुखम् ॥

M N Dutt Dark as clouds and huge as a rock, with shoulders broad as a Shala tree, of gigantic arms, having large eyes on his breast and a large mouth situated on his capacious belly.

३.२६३.२६

यदृच्छयाथ तद्रक्षः करे जग्राह लक्ष्मणम् ।
विषादमगमत्सद्यः सौमित्रिरथ भारत ॥

M N Dutt And that Rakshasa with great ease seized Lakshmana by the hand. (Thus overpowered), O Bharata, Lakshmana was instantaneously seized with dismay.

३.२६३.२७

स राममभिसंप्रेक्ष्य कृष्यते येन तन्मुखम् ।
विषण्णश्चाब्रवीद्रामं पश्यावस्थामिमां मम ॥

M N Dutt He, (the monster), then turning his eyes towards Rama, began to draw Lakshmana (forcibly) towards that portion of his body where his mouth was situated. And Lakshmana afflicted with grief said to Rama “look at my (sad) plight.

३.२६३.२८

हरणं चैव वैदेह्या मम चायमुपप्लवः ।
राज्यभ्रंशश्च भवतस्तातस्य मरणं तथा ॥

M N Dutt Your exile from the kingdom, the death of our father, the loss of the princess of Videha and (lastly) this my dangerous condition have quite overpowered me.

३.२६३.२९

नाहं त्वां सह वैदेह्या समेतं कोसलागतम् ।
द्रक्ष्यामि पृथिवीराज्ये पितृपैतामहे स्थितम् ॥

M N Dutt Alas, I shall never behold your return to Kausala with Vaidehi and your installation in the kingdom of our sire and grandsire as the ruler of the entire earth.

३.२६३.३०

द्रक्ष्यन्त्यार्यस्य धन्या ये कुशलाजशमीलवैः ।
अभिषिक्तस्य वदनं सोमं साभ्रलवं यथा ॥

M N Dutt Blessed indeed are they who will behold your face, resplendent as the moon emerged from the clouds and bathed in the coronation water sanctified with Kusha, fried paddy and black pease."

३.२६३.३१

एवं बहुविधं धीमान्विललाप स लक्ष्मणः ।
तमुवाचाथ काकुत्स्थः संभ्रमेष्वप्यसंभ्रमः ॥

M N Dutt In this strain the intelligent Lakshmana gave vent to his lamentations profusely. Then, the descendant of Kakustha, dauntless even in the very face of danger, thus spoke to him.

३.२६३.३२

मा विषीद नरव्याघ्र नैष कश्चिन्मयि स्थिते ।
छिन्ध्यस्य दक्षिणं बाहुं छिन्नः सव्यो मया भुजः ॥

M N Dutt "O bravest of men, do not give way to sorrow. This (monster) can do you nothing when I am present. Cut off his right hand with sword and I shall hack his left."

३.२६३.३३

इत्येवं वदता तस्य भुजो रामेण पातितः ।
खड्गेन भृशतीक्ष्णेन निकृत्तस्तिलकाण्डवत् ॥

M N Dutt While thus speaking Rama cut off his (left) hand with a sharp sword (as easily) as if it were a stalk of tila corn.

३.२६३.३४

ततोऽस्य दक्षिणं बाहुं खड्गेनाजघ्निवान्बली ।
सौमित्रिरपि संप्रेक्ष्य भ्रातरं राघवं स्थितम् ॥

M N Dutt The heroic son of Sumitra, seeing Raghava stand by him, hacked his right hand with his sword.

३.२६३.३५

पुनरभ्याहनत्पार्श्वे तद्रक्षो लक्ष्मणो भृशम् ।
गतासुरपतद्भूमौ कबन्धः सुमहांस्ततः ॥

M N Dutt Then Lakshmana again and again smote him in his sides and the huge headless monster fell dead on the ground.

३.२६३.३६

तस्य देहाद्विनिःसृत्य पुरुषो दिव्यदर्शनः ।
ददृशे दिवमास्थाय दिवि सूर्य इव ज्वलन् ॥

M N Dutt Then a being of celestials appearance issued out of his body and stationing himself in the air appeared as resplendent as the sun in the heavens.

३.२६३.३७

पप्रच्छ रामस्तं वाग्मी कस्त्वं प्रब्रूहि पृच्छतः ।
कामया किमिदं चित्रमाश्चर्यं प्रतिभाति मे ॥

M N Dutt Then the eloquent Rama asked him "tell me who you are. How did such a thing come about? All this appears to me highly marvellous.”

३.२६३.३८

तस्याचचक्षे गन्धर्वो विश्वावसुरहं नृप ।
प्राप्तो ब्रह्मानुशापेन योनिं राक्षससेविताम् ॥

M N Dutt To him that being replied “O king I am the Gandharva Vishvavasu. I had to assume the shape of a Rakshasa owing to an imprecation of a Brahmana.

३.२६३.३९

रावणेन हृता सीता राज्ञा लङ्कानिवासिना ।
सुग्रीवमभिगच्छस्व स ते साह्यं करिष्यति ॥

M N Dutt Sita has been abducted by Ravana who lives in Lanka. Go to Sugriva who will help you (to recover her).

३.२६३.४०

एषा पम्पा शिवजला हंसकारण्डवायुता ।
ऋश्यमूकस्य शैलस्य संनिकर्षे तटाकिनी ॥

M N Dutt In the vicinity of the (mountain) Rishyamukha there is a lake named Pampa of auspicious waters, teeming with swans and crames.

३.२६३.४१

संवसत्यत्र सुग्रीवश्चतुर्भिः सचिवैः सह ।
भ्राता वानरराजस्य वालिनो हेममालिनः ॥

M N Dutt There, adorned with a golden garland dwells Sugriva, the brother of Bali, the king of monkeys, with four counsellors.

३.२६३.४२

एतावच्छक्यमस्माभिर्वक्तुं द्रष्टासि जानकीम् ।
ध्रुवं वानरराजस्य विदितो रावणालयः ॥

M N Dutt Thus far I am able to say that you the daughter of Janaka again. It is certain that the abode of Ravana is known to the monkeyking.

३.२६३.४३

इत्युक्त्वान्तर्हितो दिव्यः पुरुषः स महाप्रभः ।
विस्मयं जग्मतुश्चोभौ तौ वीरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ ॥

M N Dutt will see Saying this that highly resplendent celestials being vanished and the highly-powerful Rama and Lakshmana both were struck with wonder.

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