October 3 - Sargas 59 and 60 of Kishkindha Kanda.
Sampati's assurance to the vanaras about their imminent success in discovering Sita's whereabouts delights the vanaras. He then continues his gripping narrative.
***
Sampati's information of where Sita is held in captivity by Ravana is simply nectar-like to the mighty vanaras. Jambavan, the senior bear, gets up and approaches Sampati, and asks, "pray, tell us more about where Sita is. Has she been seen by anyone else too?"
Jambavan adds, "Whoever abducted Sita is foolish and ignorant of Sri Rama's thunderbolt-like arrows or the speed and power of Lakshmana's arrows."
Sampati is happy that the vanaras have been cheered up. He continues,
"Oh vanaras, now hear from whom I got more information. You know that I have been on this mountain, without locomotion or strength. I have been sustained for long years by the food brought dutifully by my own son, Suparshva.
"Like gandharvas have intense passion, serpents show intense anger, deer show intense fear always, and we vultures have great hunger. So imagine my disappointment when one evening my son returned late without any food for me.
***
Suparshva narrated to his father how he had gone promptly to the Mahendra mountain looking for food. "I looked down at the vast number of creatures moving about in the ocean and was about to decide what food to pick for you. Imagine my surprise when I saw a huge. dark, cloud-like man carrying off a lady who looked radiant as the sun. As I planned to strike them for food, the man politely asked me to give them the right of way. You know me, I would not strike a polite person. Then that dark man fled away in great splendour.
"The great sages who were residing below in hermitages knew me and now spoke to me.
स च मे रावणो राजा रक्षसां प्रतिवेदितः ।
हरन्दाशरथेर्भार्यां रामस्य जनकात्मजाम् ॥
भ्रष्टाभरणकौशेयां शोकवेगपराजिताम् ।
रामलक्ष्मणयोर्नाम क्रोशन्तीं मुक्तमूर्धजाम् ॥
"Oh, Suparshva! it's your good luck that you were not struck down by the demon. He is the king of rakshasas known as Ravana. He is abducting Sita, daughter of King Janaka, wife of Sri Rama, son of King Dasharatha. You can see that Sita has dropped off her ornaments, her silk robe is slipping, as she is being carried off by force. She is crying piteously, calling out the names of Sri Rama and Lakshmana. Her hair is dishevelled."
Suparshva told his father that he had been delayed as a result of that encounter. Sampati felt helpless then too, as he could not act on his desire to go and save Sita.
***
But Sampati now tells the vanaras, "Let me at least help you to succeed in your mission. You, vanaras, are mightily strong. Even gods would not take you on. Sri Rama and Lakshmana have fierce arrows that can subdue the three worlds. Therefore, eventhough Ravana, the ten-headed demon, is strong, it will not be difficult for you to achieve your task. Do not worry about the time limit set. Focus on doing the right thing to achieve your objective. Do not hesitate in accepting the challenges. "
***
Sampati bathed in the sea and offered his ablutions to his departed brother, Jataayu. Afterwards, Angada and other vanaras came and sat around him. Sampati had gained their confidence and respect.
Sampati continued his narrative. After having his wings burnt down by the sun's rays. he fell down in this mountain range. He regained his faculties and memory slowly. He started observing all the life around him, especially the birds and the animals.
It is now a thousand years since the demise of a sage by name Nishakara who had lived in his hermitage nearby. Sampati decided to somehow make the painful descent slowly from the mountain and go in the thorny darbha grass to have the darshan of the sage Nishakara.
He and his brother Jataayu had been meeting the sage in olden times.
The wild animals like tigers, bears, elephants and deer as well as snakes around the sage's hermitage would not harm him. The trees were always full of flowers and fruits and a gentle breeze blew. This was the result of his spiritual power.
Sampati continues,
"Sage Nishakara came out and saw me in my miserable condition. He at once realised that my wings had been burnt down. He recalled how Jataayu and I used to visit him and touch his feet like humans and take his blessing."
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
