October 2 - The birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. See what the Mahatma says about Ramanama.
Today we read sargas 57 and 58 of Kishkindha Kanda.
Sampati narrates the story of Jataayu and his own exploits and how he lost his wings.
Being no ordinary bird but tracing his lineage to Garuda's own, Sampati uses his special vision to confirm that Sita has been kept in Ravana's Lanka a hundred yojanas to the south of the coast. He also says that his spiritual insight tells him that the vanaras will be successful in establishing contact with Sita and returning alive.
***
The vanaras are scared that Sampati is evil and will kill them all and eat them. But on second thought, they think that any way they all wish to die and now at least they will be doing a good act feeding a hungry bird and he will give them a quick death too. Angada climbs up and helps Sampati to come down.
On Sampati's request, Angada begins to describe the story of how they have come there:
बभूवर्क्षरजाो नाम वानरेनद्रः प्रतापवान् ।
ममार्यः पार्थिवः पक्षिन् धार्मिकौ तस्य चात्मजौ ॥
"Oh noble bird! There was the mighty king of vanaras by name Riksharajaa. His two sons are my father Vali and our king Sugriva. They were good beings. Vali when he was alive was renowned in the world for his great valour and ruled Kishkindha."
राजा कृत्स्नस्य जगत इक्ष्वाकूणां महारथः ।
रामो दाशरथिश्श्रीमान् प्रविष्टो दण्डकावनम् ॥
"The supreme lord of the word, the great warrior of Ikshvaku lineage, is Sri Rama, son of Dasharatha. On his father's order, he came to live in Dandakarnya along with his wife, Sita, daughter of King Janaka, and his younger brother, the valiant Lakshmana.
"Ravana the rakshasa plotted and abducted Sita. "
रामस्य तु पितुर्मित्रं जटायुर्नाम गृध्रराट् ।
ददर्श सीतां वैदेहीं ह्रियमाणां विहायसा ॥
रावणं विरथं कृत्वा स्थापयित्वा च मैथिलीम् ।
परिश्रान्तश्च वृद्धश्च रावणेन हतो रणे ॥
एवं गृध्रो हतस्तेन रावणेन बलीयसा ।
संस्कृतश्चापि रामेण जगाम गतिमुत्तमम् ॥
"The lord of all birds was Jataayu, an ally of King Dasharatha. He saw Sita being carried away by Ravana in his aerial chariot. Jataayu at once attacked Ravana and destroyed his chariot, bringing Sita down from his grasp. But after a sustained battle, being old and tired, Jataayu was mortally wounded by Ravana. He was later discovered by Sri Rama who came to know from his last words what had happened. Sri Rama performed Jataayu's last rites with reverence owed to ancestors. Jataayu attained the higher world as a result."
"Sri Rama forged a friendship with Sugriva who had been driven away along with his trusted lieutenants by my father Vali. Sri Rama killed Vali and made Sugriva the king. We were commissioned by Sugriva to go southward and search for Sita. But we got lost in a magical forest and cave. Our time limit of one month is long past. Our success in sighting Sita is only as much as one's sighting the sun at night time. Unable to face for our failure the severe punishment we are sure to get from Sugriva, Sri Rama, and Lakshmana, we have decided to end our lives. "
***
Sampati sheds tears. He tells the vanaras,
"Oh vanaras, know that the mighty bird Jataayu who died trying to save Sita is my own younger brother. How I wish to avenge his death by killing Ravana! But alas, I have lost my wings and am too old and infirm.
"In ancient times, when the Indra -Vrittrasura battle was fought, Jataayu and I decided to fly up to the heavens to challenge Indra himself. We were passing beyond the sun.
आवृत्याकाशमार्गेण जवेन स्वर्गतौ भृशम् ।
मध्यं प्राप्ते तु सूर्ये तु जटायुरवसीदति ॥
तमहं भ्रातरं दृष्ट्वा सूर्यरश्मिभिरार्दितम् ।
पक्षाभ्यां छादयामास स्नेहात् परमविह्वलम् ॥
निर्दग्धपत्रः पतितो विन्धयेऽहं वानरर्षभाः ।
अहमस्मि्न् वसन् भ्रातुः प्रवृत्तिं नापलक्षये ॥
"We brothers flew heavenward with great thrust and speed and approached Surya, the sun god, with his blazing rays, dangerously close. Jataayu was afflicted. Seeing my brother engulfed in the scorching rays of the sun, I quickly covered him with my large wings to relieve him from his plight.
"That moment, the sun burnt down my wings. I fell with a thud in these Vidhya mountains. Oh vanara warriors, thus it is that I am confined to this spot all this time, and have lost track of my brother Jataayu."
Angada had by now developed trust and even respect for Sampati. He said, "Sir, would you kindly tell us if you know the whereabouts of that rakshasa Ravana?"
"Dear vanaras, I am old, infirm, and without wings. Otherwise, I would have gladly participated actively in Sri Rama's mission. Now I can help you only with my words.
"You should know that I know even the depths of the netherworld ruled by lord Varuna of the seas. I know the places covered by Lord Vishnu as Trivikrama. But now I am incapable in every way.
"I did see a young, radiant, lady being carried away in the sky by Ravana. She looked like a streak of lightning as she writhed in the grip of Ravana who loomed like a dark cloud. She was crying out, "Oh Sri Rama! Oh Lakshmana, come save me!", and she was dropping off her golden ornaments.
"I know this Ravana. He is the half-brother of Kubera, the lord of wealth. He rules from the beautiful city of Lanka built by Vishwakarma himself, the architect of the gods, originally for Kubera. The city has golden gates, and many gold structures and mansions, all girded by a wall of radiant sunny colour.
"I know that you can find Sita in her silk robes, a picture of dejection, confined by Ravana there. She is guarded by rakshasis. This place is to the south of the seashore, a hundred yojanas away.
"I must tell you that the power of sight of birds matches their altitude of flight. Sparrows that feed on grain are at the lowest rung. Then crows that perch on trees and feed on fruits. Cranes fly higher. Then hawks and vultures. We of the Garuda clan have the vision to see Sita and Ravana a hundred yojanas away.
"My intuition tells me you will succeed in going and meeting Sita and returning safely. Find a way to cross the ocean.
"Now, vanaras, I wish to perform my brother's water rites. Please take me to the edge of the ocean."
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
