Ramayan, Book 3, The

<SPAN name="toc533" id="toc533"></SPAN> <SPAN name="pdf534" id="pdf534"></SPAN> <SPAN name="CantoIII-LXIX" id="CantoIII-LXIX" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN> <h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Canto LXIX. The Death Of Jatáyus.</span></h2> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">As Ráma viewed with heart-felt pain</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The vulture whom the fiend had slain,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">In words with tender love impressed</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His brother chief he thus addressed:</div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">“This royal bird with faithful thought</span></div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">For my advantage strove and fought.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Slain by the fiend in mortal strife</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">For me he yields his noble life.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">See, Lakshmaṇ, how his wounds have bled;</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His struggling breath will soon have fled.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Faint is his voice, and near to die,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">He scarce can lift his trembling eye.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Jaṭáyus, if thou still can speak,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Give, give the answer that I seek.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The fate of ravished Sítá tell,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And how thy mournful chance befell.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Say why the giant stole my dame:</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">What have I done that he could blame?</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">What fault in me has Rávaṇ seen</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">That he should rob me of my queen?</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">How looked the lady's moon-bright cheek?</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">What were the words she found to speak?</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His strength, his might, his deeds declare:</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And tell the form he loves to wear.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">To all my questions make reply:</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">Where does the giant's dwelling lie?”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">The noble bird his glances bent</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">On Ráma as he made lament,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And in low accents faint and weak</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With anguish thus began to speak:</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">“Fierce Rávaṇ, king of giant race,</span></div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Stole Sítá from thy dwelling-place.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">He calls his magic art to aid</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With wind and cloud and gloomy shade.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">When in the fight my power was spent</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">My wearied wings he cleft and rent.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Then round the dame his arms he threw,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And to the southern region flew.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">O Raghu's son, I gasp for breath,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">My swimming sight is dim in death.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">E'en now before my vision pass</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Bright trees of gold with hair of grass,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The hour the impious robber chose</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Brings on the thief a flood of woes.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The giant in his haste forgot</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">'Twas Vinda's hour,<SPAN id="noteref_513" name="noteref_513" href="#note_513"><span class="tei tei-noteref" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">513</span></span></SPAN> or heeded not.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Those robbed at such a time obtain</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Their plundered store and wealth again.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">He, like a fish that takes the bait,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">In briefest time shall meet his fate.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Now be thy troubled heart controlled</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And for thy lady's loss consoled,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">For thou wilt slay the fiend in fight</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">And with thy dame have new delight.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">With senses clear, though sorely tried,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The royal vulture thus replied,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">While as he sank beneath his pain</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Forth rushed the tide of blood again.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">“Him,<SPAN id="noteref_514" name="noteref_514" href="#note_514"><span class="tei tei-noteref" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">514</span></span></SPAN> brother of the Lord of Gold,</span></div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">Viśravas' self begot of old.”</span></div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Thus spoke the bird, and stained with gore</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Resigned the breath that came no more.</div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">“Speak, speak again!”</span> thus Ráma cried,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With reverent palm to palm applied,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">But from the frame the spirit fled</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And to the skiey regions sped.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The breath of life had passed away.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Stretched on the ground the body lay.</div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">When Ráma saw the vulture lie,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Huge as a hill, with darksome eye,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With many a poignant woe distressed</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His brother chief he thus addressed:</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">“Amid these haunted shades content</span></div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Full many a year this bird has spent.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His life in home of giants passed,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">In Daṇḍak wood he dies at last.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The years in lengthened course have fled</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Untroubled o'er the vulture's head,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And now he lies in death, for none</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The stern decrees of Fate may shun.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">See, Lakshmaṇ, how the vulture fell</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">While for my sake he battled well.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And strove to free with onset bold</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">My Sítá from the giant's hold.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Supreme amid the vulture kind</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His ancient rule the bird resigned,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And conquered in the fruitless strife</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Gave for my sake his noble life.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">O Lakshmaṇ, many a time we see</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Great souls who keep the law's decree,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With whom the weak sure refuge find,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">In creatures of inferior kind.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The loss of her, my darling queen,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Strikes with a pang less fiercely keen</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Than now this slaughtered bird to see</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Who nobly fought and died for me.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">As Daśaratha, good and great,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Was glorious in his high estate,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Honoured by all, to all endeared,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">So was this royal bird revered.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Bring fuel for the funeral rite:</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">These hands the solemn fire shall light</div> <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page310"></span><SPAN name="Pg310" id="Pg310" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And on the burning pyre shall lay</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The bird who died for me to-day.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Now on the gathered wood shall lie</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The lord of all the birds that fly,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And I will burn with honours due</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">My champion whom the giant slew.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">O royal bird of noblest heart,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Graced with all funeral rites depart</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">To bright celestial seats above,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Rewarded for thy faithful love.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Dwell in thy happy home with those</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Whose constant fires of worship rose.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Live blest amid the unyielding brave,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">And those who land in largess gave.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">Sore grief upon his bosom weighed</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">As on the pyre the bird he laid,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And bade the kindled flame ascend</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">To burn the body of his friend.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Then with his brother by his side</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The hero to the forest hied.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">There many a stately deer he slew,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The flesh around the bird to strew.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The venison into balls he made,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And on fair grass before him laid.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Then that the parted soul might rise</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And find free passage to the skies,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Each solemn word and text he said</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Which Bráhmans utter o'er the dead.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Then hastening went the princely pair</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">To bright Godávarí, and there</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Libations of the stream they poured</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">In honour of the vulture lord,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With solemn ritual to the slain,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">As scripture's holy texts ordain.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Thus offerings to the bird they gave</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And bathed their bodies in the wave.</div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The vulture monarch having wrought</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">A hard and glorious feat,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Honoured by Ráma sage in thought,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">Soared to his blissful seat.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The brothers, when each rite was paid</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">To him of birds supreme,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Their hearts with new-found comfort stayed,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">And turned them from the stream.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Like sovereigns of celestial race</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">Within the wood they came,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Each pondering the means to trace,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">The captor of the dame.</div> </div></div> <div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />