रामोपाख्यान पर्व — कबन्धको संहार

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.

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

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?

If you do not release my daughter-in-law you must not escape with your life.” Saying thus, he began to pierce the lord to the Rakshasas with his claws.

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.

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

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).

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

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

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).

Ranging through the air like a bird he (Ravana) soon cleared a great distance and beheld his beautiful and lovely city adorned with many gates,

Surrounded by high ramparts and built by Vishvakarma. And then the lord of the Rakshasas entered his city, Lanka, with Sita.

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

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"?

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).

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."

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

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.

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

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."

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

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.

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.

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.

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,

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

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

And they heard a terrible uproar of various creatures like that which is heard during a forest-fire spreading far and wide. In a moment they saw headless trunk of terrible appearance,

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

"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."

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

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

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

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.

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.”

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.

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

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

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

Do you go to him and inform him of the cause of your sorrow. Being in the same predicament as you are, he will help you.

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.

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