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Aranya Kaanda - Sarga 14
Aranya Kaanda - Sarga 14
In this Sarga, Rāma, as he heads to Pancavaṭi, sees a gigantic bird Jaṭāyu and asks who he is. Jaṭāyu says that he is a friend of his father Daṡaratha and speaks to Rāma affectionately.
Jaṭāyu explains his lineage starting all the way from Kardama Prajāpati and takes the occasion to explain how all beings came to be created from Kardama.
Jaṭāyu offers that he can be a companion to Rāma in the Vana and guard Seetā when Rāma and Lakshmaṇa go out. Rāma feels very happy, thanks Jaṭāyu. He proceeds to Pancavaṭi along with Lakshmaṇa, Seetā and Jaṭāyu.
3.14.1 அத பஞ்சவடீம் கச்சந்
அந்தரா ரகுநந்தந: ।
ஆஸஸாத மஹாகாயம்
க்ருத்ரம் பீமபராக்ரமம் ॥
atha pañcavaṭīṃ gacchan
antarā raghunandanaḥ ।
āsasāda mahākāyaṃ
gṛdhraṃ bhīmaparākramam ॥
On his way to Pancavaṭi, (Rāma) the delight of Raghus
came across a gigantic eagle of formidable prowess.
3.14.2 தம் த்ருஷ்ட்வா தௌ மஹாபாகௌ
வடஸ்தம் ராமலக்ஷ்மணௌ ।
மேநாதே ராக்ஷஸம் பக்ஷிம்
ப்ருவாணௌ கோ பவாநிதி ॥
taṃ dṛṣṭvā tau mahābhāgau
vaṭasthaṃ rāmalakṣmaṇau ।
mēnātē rākṣasaṃ pakṣiṃ
bruvāṇau kō bhavāniti ॥
Seeing him on a banyan tree,
the blessed Rāma and Lakshmaṇa
thought that bird was a Rākshasa.
They asked, 'Who are you?'.
3.14.3 ஸ தௌ மதுரயா வாசா
ஸௌம்யயா ப்ரீணயந்நிவ ।
உவாச வத்ஸ மாம் வித்தி
வயஸ்யம் பிதுராத்மந: ॥
sa tau madhurayā vācā
saumyayā prīṇayanniva ।
uvāca vatsa māṃ viddhi
vayasyaṃ piturātmanaḥ ॥
Then, he, in a sweet and gentle voice
evidently intent on pleasing them, said:
'My child! Know that I am a friend of your father'.
3.14.4 ஸ தம் பித்ருஸகம் புத்த்வா
பூஜயாமாஸ ராகவ: ।
ஸ தஸ்ய குலமவ்யக்ரம்
அத பப்ரச்ச நாம ச ॥
sa taṃ pitṛsakhaṃ buddhvā
pūjayāmāsa rāghavaḥ ।
sa tasya kulamavyagraṃ
atha papraccha nāma ca ॥
Knowing him to be his father's friend,
Rāghava paid respects to him.
Then he enquired about his name and lineage. The modern urban mind, touchy about any conversation on lineages and castes, may go off tangent here and wonder: 'why do people ask others about their lineage or caste'?
Well, asking about lineage or caste in the olden times (and even today in villages) is equivalent to asking, 'where do you work?' in modern times.
We understand people either by knowing them personally or by learning about their background.
Knowing lineage was a way of knowing people in olden times. Knowing employment (or vocation) is a way of knowing people in modern times.
3.14.5 ராமஸ்ய வசநம் ஸ்ருத்வா
ஸர்வபூதஸமுத்பவம் ।
ஆசசக்ஷே த்விஜஸ்தஸ்மை
குலமாத்மாநமேவ ச ॥
rāmasya vacanaṃ ṡrutvā
sarvabhūtasamudbhavam ।
ācacakṣē dvijastasmai
kulamātmānamēva ca ॥
In response to the words of Rāma,
the bird told him about its lineage
and also about the creation of all beings.
3.14.6 பூர்வகாலே மஹாபாஹோ
யே ப்ரஜாபதயோऽபவந் ।
தாந்மே நிகததஸ்ஸர்வாந்
ஆதிதஸ்ஸ்ருணு ராகவ ॥
pūrvakālē mahābāhō
yē prajāpatayō'bhavan ।
tānmē nigadatassarvān
āditaṡṡṛṇu rāghava ॥
Hear me tell, O Rāghava of the mighty arm,
let me start recounting from the beginning,
and give the details of Prajāpatis
that were there a long time ago.
3.14.7-9 கர்தம: ப்ரதமஸ்தேஷாம்
விக்ரீதஸ்ததநந்தர: ।
ஸேஷஸ்ச ஸம்ஸ்ரயஸ்சைவ
பஹுபுத்ரஸ்ச வீர்யவாந் ॥
ஸ்தாணுர்மரீசிரத்ரிஸ்ச
க்ரதுஸ்சைவ மஹாபல: ।
புலஸ்த்யஸ்சாங்கிராஸ்சைவ
ப்ரசேதா: பூலஹஸ்ததா ॥
தக்ஷோ விவஸ்வாநபரோऽ-
ரிஷ்டநேமிஸ்ச ராகவ ।
காஸ்யபஸ்ச மஹாதேஜா:
தேஷாமாஸீச்ச பஸ்சிம: ॥
kardamaḥ prathamastēṣāṃ
vikrītastadanantaraḥ ।
ṡēṣaṡca saṃṡrayaṡcaiva
bahuputraṡca vīryavān ॥
sthāṇurmarīciratriṡca
kratuṡcaiva mahābalaḥ ।
pulastyaṡcāṅgirāṡcaiva
pracētāḥ pūlahastathā ॥
dakṣō vivasvānaparō'-
riṣṭanēmiṡca rāghava ।
kāṡyapaṡca mahātējāḥ
tēṣāmāsīcca paṡcimaḥ ॥
Kardama was the first among them.
Then came Vikreeta, Ṡēsha, Samṡraya,
the valiant Bahuputra, Sthāṇu, Atri,
Mareeci, Kratu of great strength,
Pulastya, Angirasa, Pracēta, Pulaha, and Daksha.
After that came Vivaswan.
The supremely radiant Kāṡyapa,
who was also known as Arishṭanēmi
was the last of them.
3.14.10 ப்ரஜாபதேஸ்து தக்ஷஸ்ய
பபூவுரிதி விஸ்ருதம் ।
ஷஷ்டிர்துஹிதரோ ராம
யஸஸ்விந்யோ மஹாயஸ: ॥
prajāpatēstu dakṣasya
babhūvuriti viṡrutam ।
ṣaṣṭirduhitarō rāma
yaṡasvinyō mahāyaṡaḥ ॥
O renowned Rāma! It is well known that
Prajāpati Daksha had sixty daughters of great fame.
3.14.11-12a காஸ்யப: ப்ரதிஜக்ராஹ
தாஸாமஷ்டௌ ஸுமத்யமா: ।
அதிதிம் ச திதிம் சைவ
தநுமப்யத காலிகாம் ।
தாம்ராம் க்ரோதவஸாம் சைவ
மநும் சாப்யநலாமபி ॥
kāṡyapaḥ pratijagrāha
tāsāmaṣṭau sumadhyamāḥ ।
aditiṃ ca ditiṃ caiva
danumapyatha kālikām ।
tāmrāṃ krōdhavaṡāṃ caiva
manuṃ cāpyanalāmapi ॥
Kāṡyapa married eight of those women of lovely waists,
Aditi, Diti, Danu, Kālika, Tāmra, Krōdhvaṡa, Manu and Anala.
3.14.12b-13a தாஸ்து கந்யாஸ்தத: ப்ரீத:
காஸ்யப: புநரப்ரவீத் ।
புத்ராம்ஸ்த்ரைலோக்யபர்தந்வை
ஜநயிஷ்யத மத்ஸமாந் ॥
tāstu kanyāstataḥ prītaḥ
kāṡyapaḥ punarabravīt ।
putrāṃstrailōkyabhart nvai
janayiṣyatha matsamān ॥
The pleased Kāṡyapa, said to those young women:
‘Bear me sons who are equal to me,
that can rule all the three worlds.’
3.14.13b-14a அதிதிஸ்தந்மநா ராம
திதிஸ்ச மநுஜர்ஷப ।
காலிகா ச மஹாபாஹோ
ஸேஷாஸ்த்வமநஸோऽபவந் ॥
aditistanmanā rāma
ditiṡca manujarṣabha ।
kālikā ca mahābāhō
ṡēṣāstvamanasō'bhavan ॥
O Rāma of the might arm, O bull among men!
Aditi, Diti and Kālika were enthusiastic about it.
while the rest were not as much.
3.14.14b-15a அதித்யாம் ஜஜ்ஞிரே தேவா:
த்ரயஸ்த்ரிம்ஸதரிம்தம ।
ஆதித்யா வஸவோ ருத்ரா
ஹ்யஸ்விநௌ ச பரந்தப ॥
adityāṃ jajñirē dēvāḥ
trayastriṃṡadariṃdama ।
ādityā vasavō rudrā
hyaṡvinau ca parantapa ॥
O subduer of the foe! Thirty three Dēvas
known as the Ādityas, the Vasus, the Rudras
and the Aṡwins were born to Aditi. Twelve Ādityas, eight Vasus, eleven Rudras, and two Aṡwins make up a total of thirty three Dēvas.
3.14.15b-16a திதிஸ்த்வஜநயத்புத்ராந்
தைத்யாம்ஸ்தாத யஸஸ்விந: ।
தேஷாமியம் வஸுமதீ
புராऽஸீத்ஸவநார்ணவா ॥
ditistvajanayatputrān
daityāṃstāta yaṡasvinaḥ ।
tēṣāmiyaṃ vasumatī
purā'sītsavanārṇavā ॥
My child! Diti gave birth to the famed Daityas.
This earth with its vegetation and oceans
belonged to them, in the beginning.
3.14.16b-17a தநுஸ்த்வஜநயத்புத்ரம்
அஸ்வக்ரீவமரிந்தம ।
நரகம் காலகம்சைவ
காலிகாபி வ்யஜாயத ॥
danustvajanayatputraṃ
aṡvagrīvamarindama ।
narakaṃ kālakaṃcaiva
kālikāpi vyajāyata ॥
O subduer of foes! Danu gave birth to Hayagreeva.
Kālika gave birth to Naraka and Kālaka.
3.14.17b-18a க்ரௌஞ்சீம் பாஸீம் ததா ஸ்யேநீம்
த்ருதராஷ்ட்ரீம் ததா ஸுகீம் ।
தாம்ராபி ஸுஷுவே கந்யா:
பஞ்சைதா லோகவிஸ்ருதா: ॥
krauñcīṃ bhāsīṃ tathā ṡyēnīṃ
dhṛtarāṣṭrīṃ tathā ṡukīm ।
tāmrāpi suṣuvē kanyāḥ
pañcaitā lōkaviṡrutāḥ ॥
Tāmra gave birth to five daughters, famed in the world as
Krouncee, Bhāsee, Ṡyēnee, Dhṛtarāshṭree and Ṡukee.
3.14.18b-19 உலூகாஞ்ஜநயத்க்ரௌஞ்சீ
பாஸீ பாஸாந்வ்யஜாயத ।
ஸ்யேநீ ஸ்யேநாம்ஸ்ச க்ருத்ராம்ஸ்ச
வ்யஜாயத ஸுதேஜஸ: ।
த்ருதராஷ்ட்ரீது ஹம்ஸாம்ஸ்ச
கலஹம்ஸாம்ஸ்ச ஸர்வஸ: ॥
ulūkāñjanayatkrauñcī
bhāsī bhāsānvyajāyata ।
ṡyēnī ṡyēnāṃṡca gṛdhrāṃṡca
vyajāyata sutējasaḥ ।
dhṛtarāṣṭrītu haṃsāṃṡca
kalahaṃsāṃṡca sarvaṡaḥ ॥
Krouncee gave birth to owls, Bhāsee to vultures;
Ṡyēnee brought forth the powerful hawks and eagles.
Dhṛtarāshṭree gave birth to all the swans and Kalahaṃsas.
3.14.20-22 சக்ரவாகாம்ஸ்ச பத்ரம் தே
விஜஜ்ஞே ஸாபி பாமிநீ ।
ஸுகீ நதாம் விஜஜ்ஞே து
நதாயா விநதா ஸுதா ॥
தஸ க்ரோதவஸா ராம
விஜஜ்ஞே ஹ்யாத்மஸம்பவா: ।
ம்ருகீம் ச ம்ருகமந்தாம் ச
ஹரீம் பத்ரமதாமபி ॥
மாதங்கீமபி ஸார்தூலீம்
ஸ்வேதாம் ச ஸுரபிம் ததா ।
ஸர்வலக்ஷணஸம்பந்நாம்
ஸுரஸாம் கத்ருகாமபி ॥
cakravākāṃṡca bhadraṃ tē
vijajñē sāpi bhāminī ।
ṡukī natāṃ vijajñē tu
natāyā vinatā sutā ॥
daṡa krōdhavaṡā rāma
vijajñē hyātmasambhavāḥ ।
mṛgīṃ ca mṛgamandāṃ ca
harīṃ bhadramadāmapi ॥
mātaṅgīmapi ṡārdūlīṃ
ṡvētāṃ ca surabhiṃ tathā ।
sarvalakṣaṇasampannāṃ
surasāṃ kadrukāmapi ॥
O Rāma, may all bode well for you!
That lovely woman also gave birth to Cakravākas.
Ṡukee brought forth Nata, and Nata’s daughter was Vinata.
Krōdhvaṡa gave birth to ten daughters,
Mṛgee, Mṛgamanda, Hari, Bhadramada, Mātangi,
Ṡardūli, Ṡwēta, Surabhi, Surasa endowed
with perfectly shaped body, and Kadruka.
3.14.23 அபத்யம் து ம்ருகாஸ்ஸர்வே
ம்ருக்யா நரவரோத்தம ।
ருக்ஷாஸ்ச ம்ருகமந்தாயா:
ஸ்ருமராஸ்சமரா ஸ்ததா ॥
apatyaṃ tu mṛgāssarvē
mṛgyā naravarōttama ।
ṛkṣāṡca mṛgamandāyāḥ
sṛmarāṡcamarā stathā ॥
O best of the best among men!
All deer are the offspring of Mṛgee, and
the bears, Sṛmaras and Camaras, are born of Mṛgamanda. The progress of mankind never stops. We learn more and more every day about everything, including about how we came into being. Just in the last couple of centuries alone, with the theory of evolution backed by the science of genome, we came to know a lot more about how we evolved over time.
Before we had all this information, we depended on imagination and legends to answer the question of how we evolved. This Sarga describes one such.
What is striking about the description of genealogy in this Sarga is that it establishes that all beings, from Dēvas to humans to elephants to horses to snakes to birds to trees, are biological cousins, just as modern science says.
The kinship among all species has been a key aspect of Indian Thought from the beginning. It helped the Indian Civilization feel oneness with all beings, including mammals, birds and trees.
Whereas, it must be noted that Abrahamic Theosophy went in the direction of saying that man is special and is created in the image of god, and the rest of the beings are created for his consumption and pleasure. Thus the Abrahamic Theosophy fails to give theosophical support for humans to feel kinship with other beings.
This idea of kinship among beings and the evolutionary progress among the ten Avatāras of Vishṇu made it easier for Indians to digest and embrace the theory of evolution. And the lack of kinship among beings made it difficult for the Abrahamic religions to reconcile with the theory of evolution, and hence the vehement and continued opposition to it.
3.14.24 ஹர்யாஸ்ச ஹரயோऽபத்யம்
வாநராஸ்ச தரஸ்ஸ்விந: ।
ததஸ்த்விராவதீம் நாம
ஜஜ்ஞே பத்ரமதா ஸுதாம் ॥
haryāṡca harayō'patyaṃ
vānarāṡca tarassvinaḥ ।
tatastvirāvatīṃ nāma
jajñē bhadramadā sutām ॥
The lions are the offspring of Hari; likewise the swift monkeys.
And then, Bhadramada gave birth to a daughter by name Airāvati.
3.14.25 தஸ்யாஸ்ஸ்வைராவத: புத்ரோ
லோகநாதோ மஹாகஜ: ।
மாதங்க்யா ஸ்த்வத மாதங்கா
அபத்யம் மநுஜர்ஷப ॥
tasyāssvairāvataḥ putrō
lōkanāthō mahāgajaḥ ।
mātaṅgyā stvatha mātaṅgā
apatyaṃ manujarṣabha ॥
O bull among men! Her son was Airavata,
the great tusker, lord of the world.
The elephants are the children of Mātangi,
3.14.26 கோலாங்கூலாம்ஸ்ச ஸார்தூலீ
வ்யாக்ராம்ஸ்சாஜநயத்ஸுதாந் ।
திஸாகஜாம்ஸ்ச காகுத்ஸ்த
ஸ்வேதாப்யஜநயத்ஸுதாந் ॥
gōlāṅgūlāṃṡca ṡārdūlī
vyāghrāṃṡcājanayatsutān ।
diṡāgajāṃṡca kākutstha
ṡvētāpyajanayatsutān ॥
O Kākutstha! Ṡardūli gave birth to Gōlāṅgūlas and tigers.
Ṡwēta gave birth to the elephants of the cardinals as her sons.
3.14.27 ததோ துஹிதரௌ ராம
ஸுரபிர்த்வேவ்யஜாயத ।
ரோஹிணீம் நாம பத்ரம் தே
கந்தர்வீம் ச யஸஸ்ஸ்விநீம் ॥
tatō duhitarau rāma
surabhirdvēvyajāyata ।
rōhiṇīṃ nāma bhadraṃ tē
gandharvīṃ ca yaṡassvinīm ॥
O Rāma, may all bode well for you!
Then Surabhi gave birth to Rōhiṇee
and the renowned Gandharvee, as her daughters.
3.14.28 ரோஹிண்யஜநயத்காவை
கந்தர்வீ வாஜிநஸ்ஸுதாந் ।
ஸுரஸாऽஜநயந்நாகாந்
ராம கத்ரூஸ்து பந்நகாந் ॥
rōhiṇyajanayadgāvai
gandharvī vājinassutān ।
surasā'janayannāgān
rāma kadrūstu pannagān ॥
Rōhiṇee gave birth to cows, and Gandharvee to horses.
Surasa gave birth to the Nāgas and Kadru to the Pannagas.
Nāgas are many-hooded serpents and
Pannagas are ordinary snakes.
3.14.29 மநுர்மநுஷ்யாந் ஜநயத்
ராம புத்ராந் யஸஸ்விந: ।
ப்ராஹ்மணாந் க்ஷத்ரியாந் வைஸ்யாந்
ஸூத்ராம்ஸ்ச மநுஜர்ஷப ॥
manurmanuṣyān janayat
rāma putrān yaṡasvinaḥ ।
brāhmaṇān kṣatriyān vaiṡyān
ṡūdrāṃṡca manujarṣabha ॥
O Rāma, O bull among men!
Manu created the renowned humans as her children,
the Brāhmaṇas, Kshatriyas, Vaiṡyas and Sūdras. Reading this Sarga, one cannot help but realize that there are many legends of how the many species came into being.
Even considering just the human species, the legend here says that they are born of Manu. Bhagavad Geeta says that the four Varṇas were created by Bhagawān Krishna. Purusha Sooktam says that the four classes of humans emerged from various body parts of the Purusha.
When taken literally, these legends may seem to contradict each other, but when taken figuratively, one can see how all of them say the same thing, that there are four classes among humans.
Contrary to what people of today tend to believe, it should be noted that there is no mention of one of these four being higher or lower to the other.
3.14.30-31a ஸர்வாந் புண்யபலாந் வ்ருக்ஷாந்
அநலாபி வ்யஜாயத ।
கத்ரூர்நாகம் ஸஹஸ்ராஸ்யம்
விஜஜ்ஞே தரணீதரம் ।
த்வௌ புத்ரௌ விநதாயாஸ்து
கருடோऽருண ஏவ ச ॥
sarvān puṇyaphalān vṛkṣān
analāpi vyajāyata ।
kadrūrnāgaṃ sahasrāsyaṃ
vijajñē dharaṇīdharam ।
dvau putrau vinatāyāstu
garuḍō'ruṇa ēva ca ॥
Anala brought forth all trees
that bear wholesome fruit.
Kadru, the sister of Surasa,
brought forth the Naga of thousand hoods
who bears the earth on his head.
Vinata had two sons, Garuda and Aruṇa.
3.14.31b-32a தஸ்மாஜ்ஜாதோऽஹமருணாத்
ஸம்பாதிஸ்து மமாக்ரஜ: ।
ஜடாயுரிதி மாம் வித்தி
ஸ்யேநீபுத்ரமரிந்தம ॥
tasmājjātō'hamaruṇāt
sampātistu mamāgrajaḥ ।
jaṭāyuriti māṃ viddhi
ṡyēnīputramarindama ॥
O subduer of the foe!
From that Aruṇa, I was born;
and Sampāti is my elder brother.
Know that I am Jaṭāyu, the son of Ṡyēnee.
3.14.32b-33 ஸோऽஹம் வாஸஸஹாயஸ்தே
பவிஷ்யாமி யதீச்சஸி ।
இதம் துர்கம் ஹி காந்தாரம்
ம்ருகராக்ஷஸ ஸேவிதம் ।
ஸீதாம் ச தாத ரக்ஷிஷ்யே
த்வயி யாதே ஸலக்ஷ்மணே ॥
sō'haṃ vāsasahāyastē
bhaviṣyāmi yadīcchasi ।
idaṃ durgaṃ hi kāntāraṃ
mṛgarākṣasa sēvitam ।
sītāṃ ca tāta rakṣiṣyē
tvayi yātē salakṣmaṇē ॥
I shall be your neighbor and companion, if you please.
This is a dense wilderness infested by beasts and Rākshasas.
My child, I will look after Seetā,
when you and Lakshmaṇa go out.
3.14.34 ஜடாயுஷம் தம் ப்ரதிபூஜ்ய ராகவோ
முதா பரிஷ்வஜ்ய ச ஸம்நதோऽபவத் ।
பிதுர்ஹி ஸுஸ்ராவ ஸகித்வமாத்மவாந்
ஜடாயுஷா ஸங்கதிதம் புந: புந: ॥
jaṭāyuṣaṃ taṃ pratipūjya rāghavō
mudā pariṣvajya ca saṃnatō'bhavat ।
piturhi ṡuṡrāva sakhitvamātmavān
jaṭāyuṣā saṅkathitaṃ punaḥ punaḥ ॥
Rāghava reciprocated Jaṭāyu with all honor and
with all joy, embraced him and offered his Vandanas.
He sincerely listened to Jaṭāyu,
as he repeatedly mentioned
his friendship with his father.
3.14.35 ஸ தத்ர ஸீதாம் பரிதாய மைதிலீம்
ஸஹைவ தேநாதிபலேந பக்ஷிணா ।
ஜகாம தாம் பஞ்சவடீம் ஸலக்ஷ்மணோ
ரிபூந்திதக்ஷஞ்சலபாநிவாநல: ॥
sa tatra sītāṃ paridāya maithilīṃ
sahaiva tēnātibalēna pakṣiṇā ।
jagāma tāṃ pañcavaṭīṃ salakṣmaṇō
ripūndidhakṣañchalabhānivānalaḥ ॥
Taking Maithili with him
and joined by that mighty strong bird,
he, along with Lakshmaṇa, went on to Pancavaṭi,
to burn the foes like fire would moths.
இத்யார்ஷே ஸ்ரீமத்ராமயணே
ஸ்ரீமத்ராமாயணே ஆதிகாவ்யே
அரண்யகாண்டே சதுர்தஸஸ்ஸர்க: ॥
ityārṣē ṡrīmadrāmayaṇē
ṡrīmadrāmāyaṇē ādikāvyē
araṇyakāṇḍē caturdaṡassargaḥ ॥
Thus concludes the fourteenth Sarga
in Araṇya Kāṇḍa of the glorious Rāmāyaṇa,
the first ever poem of humankind,
composed by Maharshi Vālmeeki.
Aranya Kaanda - Sarga 14
In this Sarga, Rāma, as he heads to Pancavaṭi, sees a gigantic bird Jaṭāyu and asks who he is. Jaṭāyu says that he is a friend of his father Daṡaratha and speaks to Rāma affectionately.
Jaṭāyu explains his lineage starting all the way from Kardama Prajāpati and takes the occasion to explain how all beings came to be created from Kardama.
Jaṭāyu offers that he can be a companion to Rāma in the Vana and guard Seetā when Rāma and Lakshmaṇa go out. Rāma feels very happy, thanks Jaṭāyu. He proceeds to Pancavaṭi along with Lakshmaṇa, Seetā and Jaṭāyu.
3.14.1 அத பஞ்சவடீம் கச்சந்
அந்தரா ரகுநந்தந: ।
ஆஸஸாத மஹாகாயம்
க்ருத்ரம் பீமபராக்ரமம் ॥
atha pañcavaṭīṃ gacchan
antarā raghunandanaḥ ।
āsasāda mahākāyaṃ
gṛdhraṃ bhīmaparākramam ॥
On his way to Pancavaṭi, (Rāma) the delight of Raghus
came across a gigantic eagle of formidable prowess.
3.14.2 தம் த்ருஷ்ட்வா தௌ மஹாபாகௌ
வடஸ்தம் ராமலக்ஷ்மணௌ ।
மேநாதே ராக்ஷஸம் பக்ஷிம்
ப்ருவாணௌ கோ பவாநிதி ॥
taṃ dṛṣṭvā tau mahābhāgau
vaṭasthaṃ rāmalakṣmaṇau ।
mēnātē rākṣasaṃ pakṣiṃ
bruvāṇau kō bhavāniti ॥
Seeing him on a banyan tree,
the blessed Rāma and Lakshmaṇa
thought that bird was a Rākshasa.
They asked, 'Who are you?'.
3.14.3 ஸ தௌ மதுரயா வாசா
ஸௌம்யயா ப்ரீணயந்நிவ ।
உவாச வத்ஸ மாம் வித்தி
வயஸ்யம் பிதுராத்மந: ॥
sa tau madhurayā vācā
saumyayā prīṇayanniva ।
uvāca vatsa māṃ viddhi
vayasyaṃ piturātmanaḥ ॥
Then, he, in a sweet and gentle voice
evidently intent on pleasing them, said:
'My child! Know that I am a friend of your father'.
3.14.4 ஸ தம் பித்ருஸகம் புத்த்வா
பூஜயாமாஸ ராகவ: ।
ஸ தஸ்ய குலமவ்யக்ரம்
அத பப்ரச்ச நாம ச ॥
sa taṃ pitṛsakhaṃ buddhvā
pūjayāmāsa rāghavaḥ ।
sa tasya kulamavyagraṃ
atha papraccha nāma ca ॥
Knowing him to be his father's friend,
Rāghava paid respects to him.
Then he enquired about his name and lineage. The modern urban mind, touchy about any conversation on lineages and castes, may go off tangent here and wonder: 'why do people ask others about their lineage or caste'?
Well, asking about lineage or caste in the olden times (and even today in villages) is equivalent to asking, 'where do you work?' in modern times.
We understand people either by knowing them personally or by learning about their background.
Knowing lineage was a way of knowing people in olden times. Knowing employment (or vocation) is a way of knowing people in modern times.
3.14.5 ராமஸ்ய வசநம் ஸ்ருத்வா
ஸர்வபூதஸமுத்பவம் ।
ஆசசக்ஷே த்விஜஸ்தஸ்மை
குலமாத்மாநமேவ ச ॥
rāmasya vacanaṃ ṡrutvā
sarvabhūtasamudbhavam ।
ācacakṣē dvijastasmai
kulamātmānamēva ca ॥
In response to the words of Rāma,
the bird told him about its lineage
and also about the creation of all beings.
3.14.6 பூர்வகாலே மஹாபாஹோ
யே ப்ரஜாபதயோऽபவந் ।
தாந்மே நிகததஸ்ஸர்வாந்
ஆதிதஸ்ஸ்ருணு ராகவ ॥
pūrvakālē mahābāhō
yē prajāpatayō'bhavan ।
tānmē nigadatassarvān
āditaṡṡṛṇu rāghava ॥
Hear me tell, O Rāghava of the mighty arm,
let me start recounting from the beginning,
and give the details of Prajāpatis
that were there a long time ago.
3.14.7-9 கர்தம: ப்ரதமஸ்தேஷாம்
விக்ரீதஸ்ததநந்தர: ।
ஸேஷஸ்ச ஸம்ஸ்ரயஸ்சைவ
பஹுபுத்ரஸ்ச வீர்யவாந் ॥
ஸ்தாணுர்மரீசிரத்ரிஸ்ச
க்ரதுஸ்சைவ மஹாபல: ।
புலஸ்த்யஸ்சாங்கிராஸ்சைவ
ப்ரசேதா: பூலஹஸ்ததா ॥
தக்ஷோ விவஸ்வாநபரோऽ-
ரிஷ்டநேமிஸ்ச ராகவ ।
காஸ்யபஸ்ச மஹாதேஜா:
தேஷாமாஸீச்ச பஸ்சிம: ॥
kardamaḥ prathamastēṣāṃ
vikrītastadanantaraḥ ।
ṡēṣaṡca saṃṡrayaṡcaiva
bahuputraṡca vīryavān ॥
sthāṇurmarīciratriṡca
kratuṡcaiva mahābalaḥ ।
pulastyaṡcāṅgirāṡcaiva
pracētāḥ pūlahastathā ॥
dakṣō vivasvānaparō'-
riṣṭanēmiṡca rāghava ।
kāṡyapaṡca mahātējāḥ
tēṣāmāsīcca paṡcimaḥ ॥
Kardama was the first among them.
Then came Vikreeta, Ṡēsha, Samṡraya,
the valiant Bahuputra, Sthāṇu, Atri,
Mareeci, Kratu of great strength,
Pulastya, Angirasa, Pracēta, Pulaha, and Daksha.
After that came Vivaswan.
The supremely radiant Kāṡyapa,
who was also known as Arishṭanēmi
was the last of them.
3.14.10 ப்ரஜாபதேஸ்து தக்ஷஸ்ய
பபூவுரிதி விஸ்ருதம் ।
ஷஷ்டிர்துஹிதரோ ராம
யஸஸ்விந்யோ மஹாயஸ: ॥
prajāpatēstu dakṣasya
babhūvuriti viṡrutam ।
ṣaṣṭirduhitarō rāma
yaṡasvinyō mahāyaṡaḥ ॥
O renowned Rāma! It is well known that
Prajāpati Daksha had sixty daughters of great fame.
3.14.11-12a காஸ்யப: ப்ரதிஜக்ராஹ
தாஸாமஷ்டௌ ஸுமத்யமா: ।
அதிதிம் ச திதிம் சைவ
தநுமப்யத காலிகாம் ।
தாம்ராம் க்ரோதவஸாம் சைவ
மநும் சாப்யநலாமபி ॥
kāṡyapaḥ pratijagrāha
tāsāmaṣṭau sumadhyamāḥ ।
aditiṃ ca ditiṃ caiva
danumapyatha kālikām ।
tāmrāṃ krōdhavaṡāṃ caiva
manuṃ cāpyanalāmapi ॥
Kāṡyapa married eight of those women of lovely waists,
Aditi, Diti, Danu, Kālika, Tāmra, Krōdhvaṡa, Manu and Anala.
3.14.12b-13a தாஸ்து கந்யாஸ்தத: ப்ரீத:
காஸ்யப: புநரப்ரவீத் ।
புத்ராம்ஸ்த்ரைலோக்யபர்தந்வை
ஜநயிஷ்யத மத்ஸமாந் ॥
tāstu kanyāstataḥ prītaḥ
kāṡyapaḥ punarabravīt ।
putrāṃstrailōkyabhart nvai
janayiṣyatha matsamān ॥
The pleased Kāṡyapa, said to those young women:
‘Bear me sons who are equal to me,
that can rule all the three worlds.’
3.14.13b-14a அதிதிஸ்தந்மநா ராம
திதிஸ்ச மநுஜர்ஷப ।
காலிகா ச மஹாபாஹோ
ஸேஷாஸ்த்வமநஸோऽபவந் ॥
aditistanmanā rāma
ditiṡca manujarṣabha ।
kālikā ca mahābāhō
ṡēṣāstvamanasō'bhavan ॥
O Rāma of the might arm, O bull among men!
Aditi, Diti and Kālika were enthusiastic about it.
while the rest were not as much.
3.14.14b-15a அதித்யாம் ஜஜ்ஞிரே தேவா:
த்ரயஸ்த்ரிம்ஸதரிம்தம ।
ஆதித்யா வஸவோ ருத்ரா
ஹ்யஸ்விநௌ ச பரந்தப ॥
adityāṃ jajñirē dēvāḥ
trayastriṃṡadariṃdama ।
ādityā vasavō rudrā
hyaṡvinau ca parantapa ॥
O subduer of the foe! Thirty three Dēvas
known as the Ādityas, the Vasus, the Rudras
and the Aṡwins were born to Aditi. Twelve Ādityas, eight Vasus, eleven Rudras, and two Aṡwins make up a total of thirty three Dēvas.
3.14.15b-16a திதிஸ்த்வஜநயத்புத்ராந்
தைத்யாம்ஸ்தாத யஸஸ்விந: ।
தேஷாமியம் வஸுமதீ
புராऽஸீத்ஸவநார்ணவா ॥
ditistvajanayatputrān
daityāṃstāta yaṡasvinaḥ ।
tēṣāmiyaṃ vasumatī
purā'sītsavanārṇavā ॥
My child! Diti gave birth to the famed Daityas.
This earth with its vegetation and oceans
belonged to them, in the beginning.
3.14.16b-17a தநுஸ்த்வஜநயத்புத்ரம்
அஸ்வக்ரீவமரிந்தம ।
நரகம் காலகம்சைவ
காலிகாபி வ்யஜாயத ॥
danustvajanayatputraṃ
aṡvagrīvamarindama ।
narakaṃ kālakaṃcaiva
kālikāpi vyajāyata ॥
O subduer of foes! Danu gave birth to Hayagreeva.
Kālika gave birth to Naraka and Kālaka.
3.14.17b-18a க்ரௌஞ்சீம் பாஸீம் ததா ஸ்யேநீம்
த்ருதராஷ்ட்ரீம் ததா ஸுகீம் ।
தாம்ராபி ஸுஷுவே கந்யா:
பஞ்சைதா லோகவிஸ்ருதா: ॥
krauñcīṃ bhāsīṃ tathā ṡyēnīṃ
dhṛtarāṣṭrīṃ tathā ṡukīm ।
tāmrāpi suṣuvē kanyāḥ
pañcaitā lōkaviṡrutāḥ ॥
Tāmra gave birth to five daughters, famed in the world as
Krouncee, Bhāsee, Ṡyēnee, Dhṛtarāshṭree and Ṡukee.
3.14.18b-19 உலூகாஞ்ஜநயத்க்ரௌஞ்சீ
பாஸீ பாஸாந்வ்யஜாயத ।
ஸ்யேநீ ஸ்யேநாம்ஸ்ச க்ருத்ராம்ஸ்ச
வ்யஜாயத ஸுதேஜஸ: ।
த்ருதராஷ்ட்ரீது ஹம்ஸாம்ஸ்ச
கலஹம்ஸாம்ஸ்ச ஸர்வஸ: ॥
ulūkāñjanayatkrauñcī
bhāsī bhāsānvyajāyata ।
ṡyēnī ṡyēnāṃṡca gṛdhrāṃṡca
vyajāyata sutējasaḥ ।
dhṛtarāṣṭrītu haṃsāṃṡca
kalahaṃsāṃṡca sarvaṡaḥ ॥
Krouncee gave birth to owls, Bhāsee to vultures;
Ṡyēnee brought forth the powerful hawks and eagles.
Dhṛtarāshṭree gave birth to all the swans and Kalahaṃsas.
3.14.20-22 சக்ரவாகாம்ஸ்ச பத்ரம் தே
விஜஜ்ஞே ஸாபி பாமிநீ ।
ஸுகீ நதாம் விஜஜ்ஞே து
நதாயா விநதா ஸுதா ॥
தஸ க்ரோதவஸா ராம
விஜஜ்ஞே ஹ்யாத்மஸம்பவா: ।
ம்ருகீம் ச ம்ருகமந்தாம் ச
ஹரீம் பத்ரமதாமபி ॥
மாதங்கீமபி ஸார்தூலீம்
ஸ்வேதாம் ச ஸுரபிம் ததா ।
ஸர்வலக்ஷணஸம்பந்நாம்
ஸுரஸாம் கத்ருகாமபி ॥
cakravākāṃṡca bhadraṃ tē
vijajñē sāpi bhāminī ।
ṡukī natāṃ vijajñē tu
natāyā vinatā sutā ॥
daṡa krōdhavaṡā rāma
vijajñē hyātmasambhavāḥ ।
mṛgīṃ ca mṛgamandāṃ ca
harīṃ bhadramadāmapi ॥
mātaṅgīmapi ṡārdūlīṃ
ṡvētāṃ ca surabhiṃ tathā ।
sarvalakṣaṇasampannāṃ
surasāṃ kadrukāmapi ॥
O Rāma, may all bode well for you!
That lovely woman also gave birth to Cakravākas.
Ṡukee brought forth Nata, and Nata’s daughter was Vinata.
Krōdhvaṡa gave birth to ten daughters,
Mṛgee, Mṛgamanda, Hari, Bhadramada, Mātangi,
Ṡardūli, Ṡwēta, Surabhi, Surasa endowed
with perfectly shaped body, and Kadruka.
3.14.23 அபத்யம் து ம்ருகாஸ்ஸர்வே
ம்ருக்யா நரவரோத்தம ।
ருக்ஷாஸ்ச ம்ருகமந்தாயா:
ஸ்ருமராஸ்சமரா ஸ்ததா ॥
apatyaṃ tu mṛgāssarvē
mṛgyā naravarōttama ।
ṛkṣāṡca mṛgamandāyāḥ
sṛmarāṡcamarā stathā ॥
O best of the best among men!
All deer are the offspring of Mṛgee, and
the bears, Sṛmaras and Camaras, are born of Mṛgamanda. The progress of mankind never stops. We learn more and more every day about everything, including about how we came into being. Just in the last couple of centuries alone, with the theory of evolution backed by the science of genome, we came to know a lot more about how we evolved over time.
Before we had all this information, we depended on imagination and legends to answer the question of how we evolved. This Sarga describes one such.
What is striking about the description of genealogy in this Sarga is that it establishes that all beings, from Dēvas to humans to elephants to horses to snakes to birds to trees, are biological cousins, just as modern science says.
The kinship among all species has been a key aspect of Indian Thought from the beginning. It helped the Indian Civilization feel oneness with all beings, including mammals, birds and trees.
Whereas, it must be noted that Abrahamic Theosophy went in the direction of saying that man is special and is created in the image of god, and the rest of the beings are created for his consumption and pleasure. Thus the Abrahamic Theosophy fails to give theosophical support for humans to feel kinship with other beings.
This idea of kinship among beings and the evolutionary progress among the ten Avatāras of Vishṇu made it easier for Indians to digest and embrace the theory of evolution. And the lack of kinship among beings made it difficult for the Abrahamic religions to reconcile with the theory of evolution, and hence the vehement and continued opposition to it.
3.14.24 ஹர்யாஸ்ச ஹரயோऽபத்யம்
வாநராஸ்ச தரஸ்ஸ்விந: ।
ததஸ்த்விராவதீம் நாம
ஜஜ்ஞே பத்ரமதா ஸுதாம் ॥
haryāṡca harayō'patyaṃ
vānarāṡca tarassvinaḥ ।
tatastvirāvatīṃ nāma
jajñē bhadramadā sutām ॥
The lions are the offspring of Hari; likewise the swift monkeys.
And then, Bhadramada gave birth to a daughter by name Airāvati.
3.14.25 தஸ்யாஸ்ஸ்வைராவத: புத்ரோ
லோகநாதோ மஹாகஜ: ।
மாதங்க்யா ஸ்த்வத மாதங்கா
அபத்யம் மநுஜர்ஷப ॥
tasyāssvairāvataḥ putrō
lōkanāthō mahāgajaḥ ।
mātaṅgyā stvatha mātaṅgā
apatyaṃ manujarṣabha ॥
O bull among men! Her son was Airavata,
the great tusker, lord of the world.
The elephants are the children of Mātangi,
3.14.26 கோலாங்கூலாம்ஸ்ச ஸார்தூலீ
வ்யாக்ராம்ஸ்சாஜநயத்ஸுதாந் ।
திஸாகஜாம்ஸ்ச காகுத்ஸ்த
ஸ்வேதாப்யஜநயத்ஸுதாந் ॥
gōlāṅgūlāṃṡca ṡārdūlī
vyāghrāṃṡcājanayatsutān ।
diṡāgajāṃṡca kākutstha
ṡvētāpyajanayatsutān ॥
O Kākutstha! Ṡardūli gave birth to Gōlāṅgūlas and tigers.
Ṡwēta gave birth to the elephants of the cardinals as her sons.
3.14.27 ததோ துஹிதரௌ ராம
ஸுரபிர்த்வேவ்யஜாயத ।
ரோஹிணீம் நாம பத்ரம் தே
கந்தர்வீம் ச யஸஸ்ஸ்விநீம் ॥
tatō duhitarau rāma
surabhirdvēvyajāyata ।
rōhiṇīṃ nāma bhadraṃ tē
gandharvīṃ ca yaṡassvinīm ॥
O Rāma, may all bode well for you!
Then Surabhi gave birth to Rōhiṇee
and the renowned Gandharvee, as her daughters.
3.14.28 ரோஹிண்யஜநயத்காவை
கந்தர்வீ வாஜிநஸ்ஸுதாந் ।
ஸுரஸாऽஜநயந்நாகாந்
ராம கத்ரூஸ்து பந்நகாந் ॥
rōhiṇyajanayadgāvai
gandharvī vājinassutān ।
surasā'janayannāgān
rāma kadrūstu pannagān ॥
Rōhiṇee gave birth to cows, and Gandharvee to horses.
Surasa gave birth to the Nāgas and Kadru to the Pannagas.
Nāgas are many-hooded serpents and
Pannagas are ordinary snakes.
3.14.29 மநுர்மநுஷ்யாந் ஜநயத்
ராம புத்ராந் யஸஸ்விந: ।
ப்ராஹ்மணாந் க்ஷத்ரியாந் வைஸ்யாந்
ஸூத்ராம்ஸ்ச மநுஜர்ஷப ॥
manurmanuṣyān janayat
rāma putrān yaṡasvinaḥ ।
brāhmaṇān kṣatriyān vaiṡyān
ṡūdrāṃṡca manujarṣabha ॥
O Rāma, O bull among men!
Manu created the renowned humans as her children,
the Brāhmaṇas, Kshatriyas, Vaiṡyas and Sūdras. Reading this Sarga, one cannot help but realize that there are many legends of how the many species came into being.
Even considering just the human species, the legend here says that they are born of Manu. Bhagavad Geeta says that the four Varṇas were created by Bhagawān Krishna. Purusha Sooktam says that the four classes of humans emerged from various body parts of the Purusha.
When taken literally, these legends may seem to contradict each other, but when taken figuratively, one can see how all of them say the same thing, that there are four classes among humans.
Contrary to what people of today tend to believe, it should be noted that there is no mention of one of these four being higher or lower to the other.
3.14.30-31a ஸர்வாந் புண்யபலாந் வ்ருக்ஷாந்
அநலாபி வ்யஜாயத ।
கத்ரூர்நாகம் ஸஹஸ்ராஸ்யம்
விஜஜ்ஞே தரணீதரம் ।
த்வௌ புத்ரௌ விநதாயாஸ்து
கருடோऽருண ஏவ ச ॥
sarvān puṇyaphalān vṛkṣān
analāpi vyajāyata ।
kadrūrnāgaṃ sahasrāsyaṃ
vijajñē dharaṇīdharam ।
dvau putrau vinatāyāstu
garuḍō'ruṇa ēva ca ॥
Anala brought forth all trees
that bear wholesome fruit.
Kadru, the sister of Surasa,
brought forth the Naga of thousand hoods
who bears the earth on his head.
Vinata had two sons, Garuda and Aruṇa.
3.14.31b-32a தஸ்மாஜ்ஜாதோऽஹமருணாத்
ஸம்பாதிஸ்து மமாக்ரஜ: ।
ஜடாயுரிதி மாம் வித்தி
ஸ்யேநீபுத்ரமரிந்தம ॥
tasmājjātō'hamaruṇāt
sampātistu mamāgrajaḥ ।
jaṭāyuriti māṃ viddhi
ṡyēnīputramarindama ॥
O subduer of the foe!
From that Aruṇa, I was born;
and Sampāti is my elder brother.
Know that I am Jaṭāyu, the son of Ṡyēnee.
3.14.32b-33 ஸோऽஹம் வாஸஸஹாயஸ்தே
பவிஷ்யாமி யதீச்சஸி ।
இதம் துர்கம் ஹி காந்தாரம்
ம்ருகராக்ஷஸ ஸேவிதம் ।
ஸீதாம் ச தாத ரக்ஷிஷ்யே
த்வயி யாதே ஸலக்ஷ்மணே ॥
sō'haṃ vāsasahāyastē
bhaviṣyāmi yadīcchasi ।
idaṃ durgaṃ hi kāntāraṃ
mṛgarākṣasa sēvitam ।
sītāṃ ca tāta rakṣiṣyē
tvayi yātē salakṣmaṇē ॥
I shall be your neighbor and companion, if you please.
This is a dense wilderness infested by beasts and Rākshasas.
My child, I will look after Seetā,
when you and Lakshmaṇa go out.
3.14.34 ஜடாயுஷம் தம் ப்ரதிபூஜ்ய ராகவோ
முதா பரிஷ்வஜ்ய ச ஸம்நதோऽபவத் ।
பிதுர்ஹி ஸுஸ்ராவ ஸகித்வமாத்மவாந்
ஜடாயுஷா ஸங்கதிதம் புந: புந: ॥
jaṭāyuṣaṃ taṃ pratipūjya rāghavō
mudā pariṣvajya ca saṃnatō'bhavat ।
piturhi ṡuṡrāva sakhitvamātmavān
jaṭāyuṣā saṅkathitaṃ punaḥ punaḥ ॥
Rāghava reciprocated Jaṭāyu with all honor and
with all joy, embraced him and offered his Vandanas.
He sincerely listened to Jaṭāyu,
as he repeatedly mentioned
his friendship with his father.
3.14.35 ஸ தத்ர ஸீதாம் பரிதாய மைதிலீம்
ஸஹைவ தேநாதிபலேந பக்ஷிணா ।
ஜகாம தாம் பஞ்சவடீம் ஸலக்ஷ்மணோ
ரிபூந்திதக்ஷஞ்சலபாநிவாநல: ॥
sa tatra sītāṃ paridāya maithilīṃ
sahaiva tēnātibalēna pakṣiṇā ।
jagāma tāṃ pañcavaṭīṃ salakṣmaṇō
ripūndidhakṣañchalabhānivānalaḥ ॥
Taking Maithili with him
and joined by that mighty strong bird,
he, along with Lakshmaṇa, went on to Pancavaṭi,
to burn the foes like fire would moths.
இத்யார்ஷே ஸ்ரீமத்ராமயணே
ஸ்ரீமத்ராமாயணே ஆதிகாவ்யே
அரண்யகாண்டே சதுர்தஸஸ்ஸர்க: ॥
ityārṣē ṡrīmadrāmayaṇē
ṡrīmadrāmāyaṇē ādikāvyē
araṇyakāṇḍē caturdaṡassargaḥ ॥
Thus concludes the fourteenth Sarga
in Araṇya Kāṇḍa of the glorious Rāmāyaṇa,
the first ever poem of humankind,
composed by Maharshi Vālmeeki.