Aranya Kaanda - Sarga 67
In this Sarga, Rāma, following the inspiring words and advice of Lakshmaṇa, goes all around the Vana along with him, searching for Seetā. They then see Jaṭāyu with his body covered in blood. Rāma mistakes him to be a Rākshasa who came in the form of an eagle and who had devoured Seetā. As he is about to shoot Jaṭāyu with his arrows, Jaṭāyu announces himself and tells that he has seen Rāvaṇa carrying off Seetā. He then explains how he fought with him, breaking his chariot and killing the charioteer and how Rāvaṇa subsequently cut his wings off when he was tired. Rāma embraces Jaṭāyu and cries, showing filial love to him.
3.67.1 பூர்வஜோऽப்யுக்தமாத்ரஸ்து
லக்ஷ்மணேந ஸுபாஷிதம் ।
ஸாரக்ராஹீ மஹாஸாரம்
ப்ரதிஜக்ராஹ ராகவ: ॥
pūrvajō'pyuktamātrastu
lakṣmaṇēna subhāṣitam ।
sāragrāhī mahāsāram
pratijagrāha rāghavaḥ ॥
Even though he was the elder of the two,
Rāghava who could grasp the essence with ease,
accepted the wholesome and well spoken
words of Lakshmaṇa right away.
3.67.2 ஸந்நிக்ருஹ்ய மஹாபாஹு:
ப்ரவ்ருத்தம் கோபமாத்மந: ।
அவஷ்டப்ய தநுஸ்சித்ரம்
ராமோ லக்ஷ்மணமப்ரவீத் ॥
sannigṛhya mahābāhuḥ
pravṛttaṃ kōpamātmanaḥ ।
avaṣṭabhya dhanuṡcitram
rāmō lakṣmaṇamabravīt ॥
Restraining his swelling anger,
Rāma of the mighty arm said to Lakshmaṇa
who stood leaning on his splendid bow:
3.67.3 கிம் கரிஷ்யாவஹே வத்ஸ
க்வ வா கச்சாவ லக்ஷ்மண ।
கேநோபாயேந பஸ்யேயம்
ஸீதாமிதி விசிந்தய ॥
kiṃ kariṣyāvahē vatsa
kva vā gacchāva lakṣmaṇa ।
kēnōpāyēna paṡyēyam
sītāmiti vicintaya ॥
O Lakshmaṇa, my dear, what shall we do,
where shall we go, how shall we find Seetā?
please think it over!
3.67.4-5a தம் ததா பரிதாபார்தம்
லக்ஷ்மணோ ராமமப்ரவீத் ।
இதமேவ ஜநஸ்தாநம்
த்வமந்வேஷிதுமர்ஹஸி ।
ராக்ஷஸைர்பஹுபி: கீர்ணம்
நாநாத்ருமலதாயுதம் ॥
taṃ tathā paritāpārtam
lakṣmaṇō rāmamabravīt ।
idamēva janasthānam
tvamanvēṣitumarhasi ।
rākṣasairbahubhiḥ kīrṇam
nānādrumalatāyutam ॥
Lakshmaṇa then said to Rāma
who was pitifully in distress:
‘You should search right here in Janasthāna,
which is full of Rākshasas and
trees and creepers of every kind.’
3.67.5b-6 ஸந்தீஹ கிரிதுர்காணி
நிர்தரா: கந்தராணி ச ।
குஹாஸ்ச விவிதா கோரா
நாநாம்ருககணாகுலா: ।
ஆவாஸா: கிந்நராணாம் ச
கந்தர்வபவநாநி ச ॥
santīha giridurgāṇi
nirdarāḥ kandarāṇi ca ।
guhāṡca vividhā ghōrā
nānāmṛgagaṇākulāḥ ।
āvāsāḥ kinnarāṇāṃ ca
gandharvabhavanāni ca ॥
There are many mountain peaks, valleys,
dreadful caves and crevices in
which dwell all kinds of beasts.
There are also the dwellings of Kinnaras
and mansions of Gandharvas.
3.67.7-8a தாநி யுக்தோ மயா ஸார்தம்
த்வமந்வேஷிதுமர்ஹஸி ।
த்வத்விதா புத்திஸம்பந்நா
மஹாத்மாநோ நரர்ஷப ।
ஆபத்ஸு ந ப்ரகம்பந்தே
வாயுவேகைரிவாசலா: ॥
tāni yuktō mayā sārdham
tvamanvēṣitumarhasi ।
tvadvidhā buddhisampannā
mahātmānō nararṣabha ।
āpatsu na prakampantē
vāyuvēgairivācalāḥ ॥
You, aided by me, should make a thorough search.
Mahātmas and men of excellent intellect like you
are no more shaken by calamities, however great,
O bull among men, than mountains by high winds.
3.67.8b-9a இத்யுக்தஸ்தத்வநம் ஸர்வம்
விசசார ஸலக்ஷ்மண: ।
க்ருத்தோ ராமஸ்ஸரம் கோரம்
ஸந்தாய தநுஷி க்ஷுரம் ॥
ityuktastadvanaṃ sarvam
vicacāra salakṣmaṇaḥ ।
kruddhō rāmaṡṡaraṃ ghōram
sandhāya dhanuṣi kṣuram ॥
Thus advised, Rāma, in his anger,
mounted a dreaded crescent-headed arrow on the bow
and went around the entire Vana along with Lakshmaṇa.
3.67.9b-10a தத: பர்வதகூடாபம்
மஹாபாகம் த்விஜோத்தமம் ।
ததர்ஸ பதிதம் பூமௌ
க்ஷதஜார்த்ரம் ஜடாயுஷம் ॥
tataḥ parvatakūṭābham
mahābhāgaṃ dvijōttamam ।
dadarṡa patitaṃ bhūmau
kṣatajārdraṃ jaṭāyuṣam ॥
Then he saw the blessed Jaṭāyu, the eminent bird,
who was huge like a mountain crest
fallen on the ground soaked in blood.
3.67.10b-11a தம் த்ருஷ்ட்வா கிரிஸ்ருங்காபம்
ராமோ லக்ஷ்மணமப்ரவீத் ।
அநேந ஸீதா வைதேஹீ
பக்ஷிதா நாத்ர ஸம்ஸய: ॥
taṃ dṛṣṭvā giriṡṛṅgābham
rāmō lakṣmaṇamabravīt ।
anēna sītā vaidēhī
bhakṣitā nātra saṃṡayaḥ ॥
Seeing him, who was like a mountain crest,
Rāma said to Lakshmaṇa: ‘Without a doubt
he is the one who devoured Vaidēhi.’
3.67.11b-12 க்ருத்ரரூபமிதம் ரக்ஷோ
வ்யக்தம் பவதி காநநே ।
பக்ஷயித்வா விஸாலாக்ஷீம்
ஆஸ்தே ஸீதாம் யதாஸுகம் ।
ஏநம் வதிஷ்யே தீப்தாஸ்யை:
கோரைர்பாணைரஜிஹ்மகை: ॥
gṛdhrarūpamidaṃ rakṣō
vyaktaṃ bhavati kānanē ।
bhakṣayitvā viṡālākṣīm
āstē sītāṃ yathāsukham ।
ēnaṃ vadhiṣyē dīptāsyaiḥ
ghōrairbāṇairajihmagaiḥ ॥
This, clearly, is a Rākshasa in the guise
of an eagle that roams the forest.
Having devoured Seetā of wide eyes,
he is lying here happily.
I shall kill him with the terrible
straight-flying arrows with blazing tips!
3.67.13 இத்யுக்த்வாப்யபதத்க்ருத்ரம்
ஸந்தாய தநுஷி க்ஷுரம் ।
க்ருத்தோ ராமஸ்ஸமுத்ராந்தாம்
கம்பயந்நிவ மேதிநீம் ॥
ityuktvābhyapatadgṛdhram
sandhāya dhanuṣi kṣuram ।
kruddhō rāmassamudrāntām
kampayanniva mēdinīm ॥
Saying this, the angry Rāma dashed to the eagle,
mounting a crescent-headed arrow on the bow,
as if he would shake the earth
that extends to the ocean’s edge.
3.67.14 தம் தீநம் தீநயா வாசா
ஸபேநம் ருதிரம் வமந் ।
அப்யபாஷத பக்ஷீ து
ராமம் தஸரதாத்மஜம் ॥
taṃ dīnaṃ dīnayā vācā
saphēnaṃ rudhiraṃ vaman ।
abhyabhāṣata pakṣī tu
rāmaṃ daṡarathātmajam ॥
But the bird addressed Rāma, son of Daṡaratha
who was feeling miserable, in a feeble voice,
vomiting frothy blood as he did so:
3.67.15 யாமோஷதிமிவாயுஷ்மந்
அந்வேஷஸி மஹாவநே ।
ஸா தேவீ மம ச ப்ராணா
ராவணேநோபயம் ஹ்ருதம் ॥
yāmōṣadhimivāyuṣman
anvēṣasi mahāvanē ।
sā dēvī mama ca prāṇā
rāvaṇēnōbhayaṃ hṛtam ॥
O you of long life! Both the lady for whom
you are searching, like for a rare herb, in this great Vana
and my life were snatched away by Rāvaṇa.
3.67.16 த்வயா விரஹிதா தேவீ
லக்ஷ்மணேந ச ராகவ ।
ஹ்ரியமாணா மயா த்ருஷ்டா
ராவணேந பலீயஸா ॥
tvayā virahitā dēvī
lakṣmaṇēna ca rāghava ।
hriyamāṇā mayā dṛṣṭā
rāvaṇēna balīyasā ॥
I saw the lady being carried off by the powerful Rāvaṇa
when you and Lakshmaṇa were away, O Rāghava!
3.67.17 ஸீதாமப்யவபந்நோऽஹம்
ராவணஸ்ச ரணே மயா ।
வித்வம்ஸிதரதஸ்சாத்ர
பாதிதோ தரணீதலே ॥
sītāmabhyavapannō'ham
rāvaṇaṡca raṇē mayā ।
vidhvaṃsitarathaṡcātra
pātitō dharaṇītalē ॥
Then I went to her and fought with Rāvaṇa,
shattering his chariot and
hurling him down on the ground.
3.67.18 ஏததஸ்ய தநுர்பக்நம்
ஏததஸ்ய ஸராவரம் ।
அயமஸ்ய ரதோ ராம
பக்நஸாங்க்ராமிகோ மயா ॥
ētadasya dhanurbhagnam
ētadasya ṡarāvaram ।
ayamasya rathō rāma
bhagnasāṅgrāmikō mayā ॥
This is the broken bow and this, his armor.
This, O Rāma, is the war-chariot that was shivered by me.
3.67.19-20 அயம் து ஸாரதிஸ்தஸ்ய
மத்பக்ஷநிஹதோ யுதி ।
பரிஸ்ராந்தஸ்ய மே பக்ஷௌ
சித்த்வா கட்கேந ராவண: ।
ஸீதாமாதாய வைதேஹீம்
உத்பபாத விஹாயஸம் ।
ரக்ஷஸா நிஹதம் பூர்வம்
ந மாம் ஹந்தும் த்வமர்ஹஸி ॥
ayaṃ tu sārathistasya
matpakṣanihatō yudhi ।
pariṡrāntasya mē pakṣau
chittvā khaḍgēna rāvaṇaḥ ।
sītāmādāya vaidēhīm
utpapāta vihāyasam ।
rakṣasā nihataṃ pūrvam
na māṃ hantuṃ tvamarhasi ॥
This is his charioteer, who was
killed by a blow from my wing.
Cutting down my wings with his sword
when I was tired and exhausted,
Rāvaṇa rose into the sky, carrying Vaidēhi with him.
The Rākshasa has already killed me;
don’t you hit me too.
3.67.21 ராமஸ்தஸ்ய து விஜ்ஞாய
பாஷ்பபூர்ணமுகஸ்ததா ।
த்விகுணீக்ருததாபார்த:
ஸீதாஸக்தாம் ப்ரியாம் கதாம் ॥
rāmastasya tu vijñāya
bāṣpapūrṇamukhastadā ।
dviguṇīkṛtatāpārtaḥ
sītāsaktāṃ priyāṃ kathām ॥
Hearing from him the news of Seetā
that he was longing to hear,
Rāma felt doubly distressed,
his face filled with tears.
3.67.22 க்ருத்ரராஜம் பரிஷ்வஜ்ய
பரித்யஜ்ய மஹத்தநு: ।
நிபபாதாவஸோ பூமௌ
ருரோத ஸஹலக்ஷ்மண: ॥
gṛdhrarājaṃ pariṣvajya
parityajya mahaddhanuḥ ।
nipapātāvaṡō bhūmau
rurōda sahalakṣmaṇaḥ ॥
Throwing away the great bow and
embracing the king of eagles,
he fell on the ground unable to hold himself
and cried bitterly along with Lakshmaṇa.
3.67.23 ஏகமேகாயநே க்ருச்ச்ரே
நிஸ்ஸ்வஸந்தம் கதஞ்சந ।
ஸமீக்ஷ்ய து:கிததரோ
ராமஸ்ஸௌமித்ரிமப்ரவீத் ॥
ēkamēkāyanē kṛcchrē
niṡṡvasantaṃ kathañcana ।
samīkṣya duḥkhitatarō
rāmassaumitrimabravīt ॥
On seeing the bird that lay alone
managing to gasp somehow as the
breath passed only in one direction,
Rāma, his grief aggravated, said to Sowmitri:
‘Breath passed in only one direction’
means ‘able to exhale but not inhale’.
3.67.24 ராஜ்யம் ப்ரஷ்டம் வநே வாஸ:
ஸீதா நஷ்டா ஹதோ த்விஜ: ।
ஈத்ருஸீயம் மமாலக்ஷ்மீ:
நிர்தஹேதபி பாவகம் ॥
rājyaṃ bhraṣṭaṃ vanē vāsaḥ
sītā naṣṭā hatō dvijaḥ ।
īdṛṡīyaṃ mamālakṣmīḥ
nirdahēdapi pāvakam ॥
Kingdom gone, Vana for residence,
Seetā lost and the bird killed;
a misfortune like this could burn out even the fire.
3.67.25 ஸம்பூர்ணமபி சேதத்ய
ப்ரவிஸேயம் மஹோததிம் ।
ஸோऽபி நூநம் மமாலக்ஷ்ம்யா
விஸுஷ்யேத்ஸரிதாம்பதி: ॥
sampūrṇamapi cēdadya
praviṡēyaṃ mahōdadhim ।
sō'pi nūnaṃ mamālakṣmyā
viṡuṣyētsaritāṃpatiḥ ॥
Even the great ocean, the recourse of all rivers,
which is full (with water) will dry up without a doubt,
if I enter it, because I carry ill-luck (with me).
3.67.26 நாஸ்த்யபாக்யதரோ லோகே
மத்தோऽஸ்மிந்ஸசராசரே ।
யேநேயம் மஹதீ ப்ராப்தா
மயா வ்யஸநவாகுரா ॥
nāstyabhāgyatarō lōkē
mattō'sminsacarācarē ।
yēnēyaṃ mahatī prāptā
mayā vyasanavāgurā ॥
There is none in this world,
among the mobile and the stationary
who is more unfortunate than myself,
caught in this huge net of sorrows.
Mobile refers to the animal kingdom,
planets, etc. that move and
stationary refers to the plant kingdom,
mountains, etc., which do not move.
3.67.27 அயம் பித்ருவயஸ்யோ மே
க்ருத்ரராஜோ ஜராந்வித: ।
ஸேதே விநிஹதோ பூமௌ
மம பாக்யவிபர்யயாத் ॥
ayaṃ pitṛvayasyō mē
gṛdhrarājō jarānvitaḥ ।
ṡētē vinihatō bhūmau
mama bhāgyaviparyayāt ॥
It is due to my luck turning upside down
that this king of eagles, a good
friend of my father, ripe in age
lies on the ground, struck down.
3.67.28 இத்யேவமுக்த்வா பஹுஸோ
ராகவஸ்ஸஹலக்ஷ்மண: ।
ஜடாயுஷம் ச பஸ்பர்ஸ
பித்ருஸ்நேஹம் விதர்ஸயந் ॥
ityēvamuktvā bahuṡō
rāghavassahalakṣmaṇaḥ ।
jaṭāyuṣaṃ ca pasparṡa
pitṛsnēhaṃ vidarṡayan ॥
Saying many a word like this,
Rāghava along with Lakshmaṇa
stroked Jaṭāyu with his hands, showing filial love.
3.67.29 நிக்ருத்தபக்ஷம் ருதிராவஸிக்தம்
ஸ க்ருத்ரராஜம் பரிரப்ய ராம: ।
க்வ மைதிலீ ப்ராணஸமா மமேதி
விமுச்ய வாசம் நிபபாத பூமௌ ॥
nikṛttapakṣaṃ rudhirāvasiktaṃ
sa gṛdhrarājaṃ parirabhya rāmaḥ ।
kva maithilī prāṇasamā mamēti
vimucya vācaṃ nipapāta bhūmau ॥
Embracing the King of eagles,
who was covered with blood and
whose wings had been cut off,
Rāghava fell on the ground, while saying
‘Where is Maithili, who is like my own life!’
இத்யார்ஷே வால்மீகீயே
ஸ்ரீமத்ராமாயணே ஆதிகாவ்யே
அரண்யகாண்டே ஸப்தஷஷ்டிதமஸ்ஸர்க: ।
ityārṣē vālmīkīyē
ṡrīmadrāmāyaṇē ādikāvyē
araṇyakāṇḍē saptaṣaṣṭitamassargaḥ ।
Thus concludes the sixty seventh Sarga
in Araṇya Kāṇḍa of the glorious Rāmāyaṇa,
the first ever poem of humankind,
composed by Maharshi Vālmeeki.