October 4 - Sargas 61 and 62 of Kishkindha Kanda.
Two descriptive sargas that make me feel really good!
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When the sage Nishakara sees Sampati, he is shocked to find Sampati in such a wretched condition, all burnt up and nearly lifeless. He asks what caused this.
Sampati, a bit shamefacedly, tells him of the foolhardy attempt by him and Jataayu to fly beyond the sun.
कैलासशिखरे बद्ध्वा मुनीनामग्रतः पणम् ।
रविः स्यादनुयातव्यो यवदस्तं महागिरिम् ॥
"Revered sage, some time ago, Jataayu and I made a vow, in the presence of ascetics, that we would scale the skies and fly beyond the horizon where the sun sets at Mount Kailsasa."
Sampati then describes the sights below as they rose in the sky. Exactly the same way any first-time flier would narrate afterwards what he had seen, agog with excitement, from his window-seat on the plane.
"The earth receded rapidly below us. Cities looked like the track marks of chariots. We could hear dim sounds of dancing by red-attired girls. We heard Vedic chants by brahmins. As we rose towards the sun, the earth looked like a green carpet of grass. Rivers looked like threadwork! Mountains looked like pebbles. "
Sampati and Jataayu suddenly began to feel extreme heat. They were sweating profusely and felt scorching pain. Soon they were in a stupor.
Sampati tells how they lost their sense of direction (a faculty using which such high-flying birds constantly navigate long paths infallibly). It seemed the end of the world had come. At this point, Sampati says, the sun seemed as close to them as the earth was. Jataayu dived down towards the earth. He was getting burnt by the sun. Sampati dived after him and covered him with his wings for protection.
आशङ्के तं निपतितं जनस्थाने जटायुषम् ।
अहं तु पतितो विन्ध्ये दग्धपक्षो जडीकृतः ॥
"I suspect that Jataayu might have dropped down in Janasthana. I myself fell down in the Vindhya mountains here- my wings were burnt and I was unconscious."
राज्येन हीनो भ्रात्रा च पक्षभ्यां विक्रमेण च ।
सर्वथा मर्तुमेवेच्छन् पतिष्ये शिखराद् गिरेः ॥
"Dear sage, by my act of foolishness, I have lost my kingdom, lost my brother, lost my wings, and all my strength. Indeed, I want simply to roll down from the mountain and die."
***
Sage Nishakara listens to Sampati's story with great commiseration. He knows that both Jataayu and Sampati are wonderful souls.
The sage goes into a moment of deep meditation. When he comes back to the normal plane, he tells Sampati:
पक्षौ तु ते प्रपक्षौ च पुनर्यौभविष्यतः ।
प्राणाश्च चक्षुषी चैव विक्रमश्च बलं च ते ॥
"Sampati, I have some good news for you. I can see into the future and know that you will get your feathers and wings back as before. You will regain your Pranas (life-force) as well as strength and keen far-vision.
पुराणे सुमहत्कार्यं भविष्यति मया श्रुतम् ।
दृष्टं मे तपसा वैव श्रुत्वा च विदितं मम ॥
"Dear Sampati, I have heard it before from the Puranas, and have visualised it now in my meditation, that a supreme task will be undertaken by you in future."
Sage Nishakara narrates to Sampati the story of Sri Rama as it will come to pass a thousand years hence. The prince of Ikshwakus Sri Rama will be banished, and his wife abducted by Ravana. Ravana will tempt Sita in his fabulous kingdom with all royal inducements. But Sita will be steadfast and refuse to touch anything, refusing even food and drink. Fearing that she will lose her life, Indra arranges a portion of amruta (ambrosia) to be delivered to her. She makes a prayer for the welfare of Sri Rama and Lakshmana and offers the major part of that divine food to the gods to take care of the two brothers. The remaining amruta that she partakes of will sustain her for as long as is needed until she is saved.
Sri Rama's messenger vanaras will arrive where Sampati will be living at that time. They will be desperately searching for Sita's whereabouts.
***
Sampati is asked by the sage Nishakara to narrate all this to the vanaras and give them the much-needed motivation to continue their search for Sita, and tell them where to find her. At that time, Sampati will get his wings and everything else back.
The sage says that by his ascetic power, he can restore to Sampati his wings and strength and everything right away, but he wants Sampati to stay in the same place and be met by the vanaras. So Sampati has to wait. As far as Nishakara himself is concerned, much as he would love to have the darshan of Sri Rama when all this happens, he has decided to give up his body.
Sage Nishakara tells Sampati that his good deed in helping Sri Rama's cause will bring happiness to brahmins, sages, gods, and even others who live in that region.
***
These prophetic words were spoken a thousand years before the present time when Sampati is narrating this to the vanaras.
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
