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Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 49: Jaṭāyu’s battle and fall
Summary. He wrecks Rāvaṇa’s chariot and renews the attack, Rāvaṇa cuts his wings, feet and flanks, Sītā embraces him
Sequence
- Rāvaṇa attacks in fury, and a fierce aerial battle begins (3.49.1–4)
- he showers Jaṭāyu with arrows, but the bird endures them and tears his body with his talons (3.49.5–7)
- Rāvaṇa strikes him with ten more arrows → seeing Sītā in tears, Jaṭāyu presses the attack despite his wounds (3.49.8–10)
- he breaks Rāvaṇa's bow with his talons and tears away the armor with his wings (3.49.11–12)
- he kills the donkey-team and wrecks the chariot, parasol, and fans → with his driver also killed, Rāvaṇa falls to the ground still holding Sītā (3.49.13–15)
- the witnesses praise Jaṭāyu. (3.49.16)
- Seeing the aged bird exhausted, Rāvaṇa lifts Sītā and rises again (3.49.17–18)
- Jaṭāyu follows, condemns the abduction as a thief's act, warns that it will destroy Rāvaṇa and his people, and again demands a fight (3.49.19–27)
- he lands on Rāvaṇa's back, claws him, drives in his beak, and tears out his hair (3.49.28–31)
- Rāvaṇa holds Sītā against his left side and strikes Jaṭāyu with his hand (3.49.32)
- Jaṭāyu tears off his ten left arms with his beak (3.49.33)
- Rāvaṇa sets Sītā down and attacks with fists and feet → after further fighting, he draws his sword and cuts Jaṭāyu's wings, feet, and flanks (3.49.34–36)
- Jaṭāyu falls, barely alive (3.49.37)
- Sītā runs to him, embraces him like a relative, and weeps over his wounds while Rāvaṇa looks on. (3.49.38–40)
Verses 3.49.1–40
3.49.1
ity uktasya yathānyāyaṃ rāvaṇasya jaṭāyuṣā
kruddhasyāgninibhāḥ sarvā rejur viṃśatidṛṣṭayaḥ
When Rāvaṇa had been thus fittingly rebuked by Jaṭāyus, all twenty eyes of the enraged demon blazed like fire.
Words: ity — thus; uktasya — of (him) addressed; yathānyāyaṃ — fittingly, according to propriety; rāvaṇasya — of Rāvaṇa; jaṭāyuṣā — by Jaṭāyus; kruddhasyāgninibhāḥ — of the angry one, fire-like; sarvā — all; rejur — shone, blazed; viṃśatidṛṣṭayaḥ — the twenty eyes
3.49.2
saṃraktanayanaḥ kopāt taptakāñcanakuṇḍalaḥ
rākṣasendro 'bhidudrāva patagendram amarṣaṇaḥ
Red-eyed with rage, his earrings of burnished gold, the furious lord of the rākṣasas rushed upon the lord of birds.
Words: saṃraktanayanaḥ — with red eyes; kopāt — from anger; taptakāñcanakuṇḍalaḥ — with earrings of burnished gold; rākṣasendro — the lord of rākṣasas; 'bhidudrāva — rushed upon, attacked; patagendram — the lord of birds; amarṣaṇaḥ — furious, impatient
3.49.3
sa saṃprahāras tumulas tayos tasmin mahāvane
babhūva vātoddhatayor meghayor gagane yathā
A tumultuous clash broke out between the two in that great forest, like the collision of two storm-driven clouds in the sky.
Words: sa — that; saṃprahāras — combat, clash; tumulas — tumultuous; tayos — of the two; tasmin — in that; mahāvane — great forest; babhūva — was, arose; vātoddhatayor — of (the two) driven by the wind; meghayor — of (two) clouds; gagane — in the sky; yathā — as
3.49.4
tad babhūvādbhutaṃ yuddhaṃ gṛdhrarākṣasayos tadā
sapakṣayor mālyavator mahāparvatayor iva
Then a marvelous battle took place between the vulture and the rākṣasa, like a clash of two great winged mountains wreathed in garlands of cloud.
Words: tad — that; babhūvādbhutaṃ — was marvelous; yuddhaṃ — battle; gṛdhrarākṣasayos — of the vulture and the rākṣasa; tadā — then; sapakṣayor — of (two) having wings; mālyavator — garlanded (with cloud); mahāparvatayor — of two great mountains; iva — like
3.49.5
tato nālīkanārācais tīkṣṇāgraiś ca vikarṇibhiḥ
abhyavarṣan mahāghorair gṛdhrarājaṃ mahābalaḥ
Then the mighty Rāvaṇa rained upon the king of vultures a shower of nālīka and nārāca shafts — sharp-pointed, barbed, and most terrible.
Words: tato — then; nālīkanārācais — with nālīka and nārāca arrows; tīkṣṇāgraiś — sharp-pointed; ca — and; vikarṇibhiḥ — barbed (arrows); abhyavarṣan — rained down, showered; mahāghorair — very terrible; gṛdhrarājaṃ — the king of vultures; mahābalaḥ — the mighty one
3.49.6
sa tāni śarajālāni gṛdhraḥ patraratheśvaraḥ
jaṭāyuḥ pratijagrāha rāvaṇāstrāṇi saṃyuge
But the vulture Jaṭāyus, lord of birds, withstood those volleys of arrows, Rāvaṇa's missiles, in the fight.
Words: sa — he; tāni — those; śarajālāni — volleys of arrows; gṛdhraḥ — the vulture; patraratheśvaraḥ — lord of birds; jaṭāyuḥ — Jaṭāyus; pratijagrāha — received, withstood; rāvaṇāstrāṇi — Rāvaṇa's missiles; saṃyuge — in the battle
3.49.7
tasya tīkṣṇanakhābhyāṃ tu caraṇābhyāṃ mahābalaḥ
cakāra bahudhā gātre vraṇān patagasattamaḥ
With his two feet and their sharp talons, the mighty Jaṭāyus, best of birds, tore many wounds in Rāvaṇa's body.
Words: tasya — his (Rāvaṇa's); tīkṣṇanakhābhyāṃ — with (his two) sharp-clawed; tu — and; caraṇābhyāṃ — with (his two) feet, talons; mahābalaḥ — the mighty one; cakāra — made; bahudhā — in many places; gātre — on the body; vraṇān — wounds; patagasattamaḥ — the best of birds
3.49.8
atha krodhād daśagrīvo jagrāha daśamārgaṇān
mṛtyudaṇḍanibhān ghorāñ śatrumardanakāṅkṣayā
Then, in his fury, the ten-necked one, eager to crush his foe, seized ten dreadful arrows resembling the rod of Death.
Words: atha — then; krodhād — from anger; daśagrīvo — the ten-necked (Rāvaṇa); jagrāha — seized, took up; daśamārgaṇān — ten arrows; mṛtyudaṇḍanibhān — resembling the rod of Death; ghorāñ — terrible; śatrumardanakāṅkṣayā — with a desire to crush the enemy
3.49.9
sa tair bāṇair mahāvīryaḥ pūrṇamuktair ajihmagaiḥ
bibheda niśitais tīkṣṇair gṛdhraṃ ghoraiḥ śilīmukhaiḥ
With those arrows — loosed at full draw and flying straight, keen, sharp, and terrible shafts — the mighty Rāvaṇa pierced the vulture.
Words: sa — he; tair — with those; bāṇair — arrows; mahāvīryaḥ — of great valor; pūrṇamuktair — loosed at full draw; ajihmagaiḥ — flying straight; bibheda — pierced; niśitais — sharp; tīkṣṇair — keen; gṛdhraṃ — the vulture; ghoraiḥ — terrible; śilīmukhaiḥ — with arrows
3.49.10
sa rākṣasarathe paśyañ jānakīṃ bāṣpalocanām
acintayitvā bāṇāṃs tān rākṣasaṃ samabhidravat
Seeing Jānakī, her eyes brimming with tears, upon the rākṣasa's chariot, Jaṭāyus paid no heed to those arrows and charged at the rākṣasa.
Words: sa — he; rākṣasarathe — on the rākṣasa's chariot; paśyañ — seeing; jānakīṃ — Jānakī (Sītā); bāṣpalocanām — with tearful eyes; acintayitvā — disregarding, heedless of; bāṇāṃs — the arrows; tān — those; rākṣasaṃ — the rākṣasa; samabhidravat — rushed upon
3.49.11
tato 'sya saśaraṃ cāpaṃ muktāmaṇivibhūṣitam
caraṇābhyāṃ mahātejā babhañja patageśvaraḥ
Then the resplendent lord of birds, with his talons, shattered Rāvaṇa's bow — arrow and all — adorned though it was with pearls and gems.
Words: tato — then; 'sya — his; saśaraṃ — together with the arrow; cāpaṃ — bow; muktāmaṇivibhūṣitam — adorned with pearls and gems; caraṇābhyāṃ — with (his two) talons; mahātejā — the greatly splendid; babhañja — broke, shattered; patageśvaraḥ — the lord of birds
3.49.12
tac cāgnisadṛśaṃ dīptaṃ rāvaṇasya śarāvaram
pakṣābhyāṃ ca mahātejā vyadhunot patageśvaraḥ
And with his wings, the resplendent lord of birds tore away Rāvaṇa's blazing, fire-like armor.
Words: tac — that; cāgnisadṛśaṃ — and fire-like; dīptaṃ — blazing; rāvaṇasya — of Rāvaṇa; śarāvaram — armor, coat of mail; pakṣābhyāṃ — with (his two) wings; ca — and; mahātejā — the greatly splendid; vyadhunot — shook off, tore away; patageśvaraḥ — the lord of birds
3.49.13
kāñcanoraśchadān divyān piśācavadanān kharān
tāṃś cāsya javasaṃpannāñ jaghāna samare balī
And the mighty Jaṭāyus slew in battle those swift, divine, goblin-faced donkeys of his, decked with golden chest-trappings.
Words: kāñcanoraśchadān — with golden chest-coverings; divyān — divine; piśācavadanān — goblin-faced; kharān — the donkeys; tāṃś — those; cāsya — and his; javasaṃpannāñ — endowed with speed; jaghāna — slew; samare — in battle; balī — the strong one (Jaṭāyus)
3.49.14
varaṃ triveṇusaṃpannaṃ kāmagaṃ pāvakārciṣam
maṇihemavicitrāṅgaṃ babhañja ca mahāratham
pūrṇacandrapratīkāśaṃ chatraṃ ca vyajanaiḥ saha
And he shattered that splendid great chariot — fitted with three poles, moving at will, bright as fire, its frame all agleam with gems and gold — together with the parasol, round as the full moon, and the fans.
Words: varaṃ — excellent; triveṇusaṃpannaṃ — fitted with three poles; kāmagaṃ — going at will; pāvakārciṣam — with flame-like brilliance; maṇihemavicitrāṅgaṃ — with body variegated with gems and gold; babhañja — broke, shattered; ca — and; mahāratham — the great chariot; pūrṇacandrapratīkāśaṃ — resembling the full moon; chatraṃ — the parasol; ca — and; vyajanaiḥ — with the fans, chowries; saha — together
3.49.15
sa bhagnadhanvā viratho hatāśvo hatasārathiḥ
aṅkenādāya vaidehīṃ papāta bhuvi rāvaṇaḥ
His bow broken, his chariot wrecked, his mounts and driver slain, Rāvaṇa fell to the ground, still clutching Vaidehī in his arms.
Words: sa — he; bhagnadhanvā — with his bow broken; viratho — chariotless; hatāśvo — his mounts slain; hatasārathiḥ — his charioteer slain; aṅkenādāya — taking on (his) lap, in his arms; vaidehīṃ — Vaidehī; papāta — fell; bhuvi — to the ground; rāvaṇaḥ — Rāvaṇa
3.49.16
dṛṣṭvā nipatitaṃ bhūmau rāvaṇaṃ bhagnavāhanam
sādhu sādhv iti bhūtāni gṛdhrarājam apūjayan
Seeing Rāvaṇa fallen to the earth, his vehicle wrecked, all creatures cried 'Well done! Well done!' and honored the king of vultures.
Words: dṛṣṭvā — seeing; nipatitaṃ — fallen; bhūmau — to the ground; rāvaṇaṃ — Rāvaṇa; bhagnavāhanam — with broken vehicle; sādhu — 'well done!'; sādhv — 'well done!'; iti — thus; bhūtāni — the beings, creatures; gṛdhrarājam — the king of vultures; apūjayan — honored, praised
3.49.17
pariśrāntaṃ tu taṃ dṛṣṭvā jarayā pakṣiyūthapam
utpapāta punar hṛṣṭo maithilīṃ gṛhya rāvaṇaḥ
But seeing that leader of birds worn out with age, Rāvaṇa, elated, seized Maithilī and sprang up into the air once more.
Words: pariśrāntaṃ — exhausted; tu — but; taṃ — him; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; jarayā — by (his) old age; pakṣiyūthapam — the leader of the flock of birds; utpapāta — sprang up; punar — again; hṛṣṭo — delighted; maithilīṃ — Maithilī; gṛhya — seizing; rāvaṇaḥ — Rāvaṇa
3.49.18
taṃ prahṛṣṭaṃ nidhāyāṅke gacchantaṃ janakātmajām
gṛdhrarājaḥ samutpatya jaṭāyur idam abravīt
As the exultant Rāvaṇa went off with Janaka's daughter set upon his lap, Jaṭāyus, the vulture king, flew up and spoke these words:
Words: taṃ — him; prahṛṣṭaṃ — elated; nidhāyāṅke — having placed on (his) lap; gacchantaṃ — going; janakātmajām — the daughter of Janaka; gṛdhrarājaḥ — the king of vultures; samutpatya — flying up; jaṭāyur — Jaṭāyus; idam — this; abravīt — said
3.49.19
vajrasaṃsparśabāṇasya bhāryāṃ rāmasya rāvaṇa
alpabuddhe harasy enāṃ vadhāya khalu rakṣasām
O feeble-minded Rāvaṇa, you carry off the wife of Rāma, whose arrows strike like the thunderbolt — and it will surely mean the destruction of the rākṣasas!
Words: vajrasaṃsparśabāṇasya — of him whose arrows strike like the thunderbolt; bhāryāṃ — wife; rāmasya — of Rāma; rāvaṇa — O Rāvaṇa; alpabuddhe — O feeble-minded one; harasy — you carry off; enāṃ — her; vadhāya — for the destruction; khalu — indeed; rakṣasām — of the rākṣasas
3.49.20
samitrabandhuḥ sāmātyaḥ sabalaḥ saparicchadaḥ
viṣapānaṃ pibasy etat pipāsita ivodakam
Along with your friends, kinsmen, ministers, army, and retinue, you are drinking this draught of poison as a thirsty man drinks water.
Words: samitrabandhuḥ — together with your friends and kinsmen; sāmātyaḥ — with your ministers; sabalaḥ — with your army; saparicchadaḥ — with your retinue; viṣapānaṃ — a draught of poison; pibasy — you drink; etat — this; pipāsita — a thirsty man; ivodakam — like water
3.49.21
anubandham ajānantaḥ karmaṇām avicakṣaṇāḥ
śīghram eva vinaśyanti yathā tvaṃ vinaśiṣyasi
The imprudent, who do not perceive the consequences of their deeds, swiftly perish — as you shall perish.
Words: anubandham — the consequence; ajānantaḥ — not knowing; karmaṇām — of (their) deeds; avicakṣaṇāḥ — the unwise, imprudent; śīghram — quickly; eva — indeed; vinaśyanti — perish; yathā — as; tvaṃ — you; vinaśiṣyasi — will perish
3.49.22
baddhas tvaṃ kālapāśena kva gatas tasya mokṣyase
vadhāya baḍiśaṃ gṛhya sāmiṣaṃ jalajo yathā
Bound in the noose of Death, wherever you go, how will you escape it — like a fish that has swallowed the baited hook to its own doom?
Words: baddhas — bound; tvaṃ — you; kālapāśena — by the noose of Death; kva — where; gatas — having gone; tasya — from it; mokṣyase — will you be freed; vadhāya — for (its own) death; baḍiśaṃ — the hook; gṛhya — having seized, swallowed; sāmiṣaṃ — with the bait; jalajo — a fish; yathā — as
3.49.23
na hi jātu durādharṣau kākutsthau tava rāvaṇa
dharṣaṇaṃ cāśramasyāsya kṣamiṣyete tu rāghavau
For never, Rāvaṇa, will those two unassailable Kākutsthas, the Rāghavas, forgive you this outrage against their hermitage.
Words: na — not; hi — indeed; jātu — ever; durādharṣau — the two unassailable ones; kākutsthau — the two Kākutsthas (Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa); tava — your; rāvaṇa — O Rāvaṇa; dharṣaṇaṃ — the assault, outrage; cāśramasyāsya — and of this hermitage; kṣamiṣyete — will pardon (the two); tu — indeed; rāghavau — the two Rāghavas
3.49.24
yathā tvayā kṛtaṃ karma bhīruṇā lokagarhitam
taskarācarito mārgo naiṣa vīraniṣevitaḥ
The deed you have done, coward, is condemned by all the world; this is the path trodden by thieves, not one followed by heroes.
Words: yathā — such as; tvayā — by you; kṛtaṃ — done; karma — deed; bhīruṇā — by a coward; lokagarhitam — condemned by the world; taskarācarito — trodden by thieves; mārgo — the path; naiṣa — not this; vīraniṣevitaḥ — frequented by heroes
3.49.25
yudhyasva yadi śūro 'si muhūrtaṃ tiṣṭha rāvaṇa
śayiṣyase hato bhūmau yathā bhrātā kharas tathā
Fight, if you are a hero! Halt a moment, Rāvaṇa. You will lie slain upon the earth, just as your brother Khara did.
Words: yudhyasva — fight; yadi — if; śūro — a hero; 'si — you are; muhūrtaṃ — for a moment; tiṣṭha — stand, wait; rāvaṇa — O Rāvaṇa; śayiṣyase — you will lie; hato — slain; bhūmau — on the ground; yathā — as; bhrātā — (your) brother; kharas — Khara; tathā — so
3.49.26
paretakāle puruṣo yat karma pratipadyate
vināśāyātmano 'dharmyaṃ pratipanno 'si karma tat
The unrighteous deed that a man takes up at his death-hour, to his own destruction — that very deed you have now undertaken.
Words: paretakāle — at the time of death; puruṣo — a man; yat — which; karma — deed; pratipadyate — undertakes; vināśāyātmano — for one's own destruction; 'dharmyaṃ — unrighteous; pratipanno — have undertaken; 'si — you are; karma — deed; tat — that
3.49.27
pāpānubandho vai yasya karmaṇaḥ ko nu tat pumān
kurvīta lokādhipatiḥ svayambhūr bhagavān api
A deed whose sequel is only evil — what man would ever do it, even were he lord of the world, even the self-existent, blessed Brahmā himself?
Words: pāpānubandho — whose consequence is evil; vai — indeed; yasya — of which; karmaṇaḥ — deed; ko — who; nu — pray; tat — that; pumān — man; kurvīta — would do; lokādhipatiḥ — the lord of the world; svayambhūr — the self-existent (Brahmā); bhagavān — the blessed lord; api — even
3.49.28
evam uktvā śubhaṃ vākyaṃ jaṭāyus tasya rakṣasaḥ
nipapāta bhṛśaṃ pṛṣṭhe daśagrīvasya vīryavān
Having spoken these noble words, valiant Jaṭāyus swooped down hard upon the back of that rākṣasa, the ten-necked Rāvaṇa.
Words: evam — thus; uktvā — having spoken; śubhaṃ — auspicious, noble; vākyaṃ — words; jaṭāyus — Jaṭāyus; tasya — that; rakṣasaḥ — of the rākṣasa; nipapāta — swooped down, fell; bhṛśaṃ — forcefully; pṛṣṭhe — on the back; daśagrīvasya — of the ten-necked one; vīryavān — the valiant
3.49.29
taṃ gṛhītvā nakhais tīkṣṇair virarāda samantataḥ
adhirūḍho gajārohi yathā syād duṣṭavāraṇam
Seizing him, he clawed him all over with his sharp talons, as a mounted mahout might scratch a rogue elephant he rides.
Words: taṃ — him; gṛhītvā — having seized; nakhais — with claws; tīkṣṇair — sharp; virarāda — tore, scratched; samantataḥ — all over; adhirūḍho — mounted; gajārohi — a mahout, elephant-rider; yathā — as; syād — would be; duṣṭavāraṇam — a rogue elephant
3.49.30
virarāda nakhair asya tuṇḍaṃ pṛṣṭhe samarpayan
keśāṃś cotpāṭayām āsa nakhapakṣamukhāyudhaḥ
He clawed him and, driving his beak into his back, tore out his hair — that bird whose weapons were his talons, wings, and beak.
Words: virarāda — tore, clawed; nakhair — with claws; asya — his; tuṇḍaṃ — beak; pṛṣṭhe — on the back; samarpayan — fixing, driving in; keśāṃś — the hair; cotpāṭayām — and ... tore out; āsa — (did); nakhapakṣamukhāyudhaḥ — whose weapons are claws, wings, and beak
3.49.31
sa tathā gṛdhrarājena kliśyamāno muhur muhuḥ
amarṣasphuritauṣṭhaḥ san prākampata sa rākṣasaḥ
Tormented thus again and again by the king of vultures, that rākṣasa, his lips quivering with rage, began to shake with fury.
Words: sa — he; tathā — thus; gṛdhrarājena — by the king of vultures; kliśyamāno — being tormented; muhur — again; muhuḥ — and again; amarṣasphuritauṣṭhaḥ — with lips quivering in fury; san — being; prākampata — trembled, shook; sa — that; rākṣasaḥ — rākṣasa
3.49.32
saṃpariṣvajya vaidehīṃ vāmenāṅkena rāvaṇaḥ
talenābhijaghānārto jaṭāyuṃ krodhamūrchitaḥ
Clasping Vaidehī to his left side, the distraught Rāvaṇa, beside himself with rage, struck Jaṭāyus with the flat of his hand.
Words: saṃpariṣvajya — clasping, embracing; vaidehīṃ — Vaidehī; vāmenāṅkena — with (his) left arm; rāvaṇaḥ — Rāvaṇa; talenābhijaghānārto — struck with his palm, distressed; jaṭāyuṃ — Jaṭāyus; krodhamūrchitaḥ — beside himself with rage
3.49.33
jaṭāyus tam atikramya tuṇḍenāsya kharādhipaḥ
vāmabāhūn daśa tadā vyapāharad ariṃdamaḥ
Jaṭāyus, that subduer of foes, closing in on him, then tore off with his beak the ten left arms of that lord of the ass-drawn car.
Words: jaṭāyus — Jaṭāyus; tam — him; atikramya — closing in on, overtaking; tuṇḍenāsya — with (his) beak, his; kharādhipaḥ — the lord of the ass-drawn car (Rāvaṇa); vāmabāhūn — left arms; daśa — ten; tadā — then; vyapāharad — tore off; ariṃdamaḥ — the subduer of foes
3.49.34
tataḥ kruddho daśakrīvaḥ sītām utsṛjya vīryavān
muṣṭibhyāṃ caraṇābhyāṃ ca gṛdhrarājam apothayat
Then the enraged, mighty ten-necked one set Sītā down and battered the king of vultures with his fists and his feet.
Words: tataḥ — then; kruddho — angered; daśakrīvaḥ — the ten-necked (var. for daśagrīvaḥ); sītām — Sītā; utsṛjya — releasing, setting down; vīryavān — the valiant; muṣṭibhyāṃ — with (his two) fists; caraṇābhyāṃ — with (his two) feet; ca — and; gṛdhrarājam — the king of vultures; apothayat — crushed, pounded
3.49.35
tato muhūrtaṃ saṃgrāmo babhūvātulavīryayoḥ
rākṣasānāṃ ca mukhyasya pakṣiṇāṃ pravarasya ca
Then for a while a battle raged between those two of matchless valor — the chief of the rākṣasas and the foremost of birds.
Words: tato — then; muhūrtaṃ — for a while; saṃgrāmo — battle; babhūvātulavīryayoḥ — took place, of the two of matchless valor; rākṣasānāṃ — of the rākṣasas; ca — and; mukhyasya — of the chief; pakṣiṇāṃ — of the birds; pravarasya — of the best; ca — and
3.49.36
tasya vyāyacchamānasya rāmasyārthe 'tha rāvaṇaḥ
pakṣau pādau ca pārśvau ca khaḍgam uddhṛtya so 'cchinat
As Jaṭāyus fought on for Rāma's sake, Rāvaṇa drew his sword and cut off the bird's wings, feet, and flanks.
Words: tasya — his (Jaṭāyus's); vyāyacchamānasya — (of him) struggling, exerting himself; rāmasyārthe — for Rāma's sake; 'tha — then; rāvaṇaḥ — Rāvaṇa; pakṣau — the two wings; pādau — the two feet; ca — and; pārśvau — the two flanks, sides; ca — and; khaḍgam — a sword; uddhṛtya — drawing, raising; so — he; 'cchinat — cut off
3.49.37
sa chinnapakṣaḥ sahasā rakṣasā raudrakarmaṇā
nipapāta hato gṛdhro dharaṇyām alpajīvitaḥ
His wings severed, the vulture, struck down by the rākṣasa of savage deeds, suddenly fell to the earth, barely alive.
Words: sa — he; chinnapakṣaḥ — with wings severed; sahasā — suddenly; rakṣasā — by the rākṣasa; raudrakarmaṇā — of savage deeds; nipapāta — fell; hato — struck, slain; gṛdhro — the vulture; dharaṇyām — to the earth; alpajīvitaḥ — with little life left
3.49.38
taṃ dṛṣṭvā patitaṃ bhūmau kṣatajārdraṃ jaṭāyuṣam
abhyadhāvata vaidehī svabandhum iva duḥkhitā
Seeing Jaṭāyus fallen to the ground, drenched in blood, Vaidehī ran to him in her grief, as though to her own kinsman.
Words: taṃ — him; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; patitaṃ — fallen; bhūmau — to the ground; kṣatajārdraṃ — drenched in blood; jaṭāyuṣam — Jaṭāyus; abhyadhāvata — ran toward; vaidehī — Vaidehī; svabandhum — her own kinsman; iva — like; duḥkhitā — grieving
3.49.39
taṃ nīlajīmūtanikāśakalpaṃ supāṇḍuroraskam udāravīryam
dadarśa laṅkādhipatiḥ pṛthivyāṃ jaṭāyuṣaṃ śāntam ivāgnidāvam
The lord of Laṅkā gazed upon Jaṭāyus lying on the earth — dark as a rain-cloud, his breast gleaming pale, of noble valor — like a forest fire burned out.
Words: taṃ — him; nīlajīmūtanikāśakalpaṃ — resembling a dark thundercloud; supāṇḍuroraskam — with a very pale breast; udāravīryam — of noble valor; dadarśa — gazed upon, beheld; laṅkādhipatiḥ — the lord of Laṅkā; pṛthivyāṃ — on the earth; jaṭāyuṣaṃ — Jaṭāyus; śāntam — quenched, extinguished; ivāgnidāvam — like a forest fire
3.49.40
tatas tu taṃ patrarathaṃ mahītale nipātitaṃ rāvaṇavegamarditam
punaḥ pariṣvajya śaśiprabhānanā ruroda sītā janakātmajā tadā
Then Sītā, Janaka's daughter, her face bright as the moon, embracing once more that bird struck down upon the earth, crushed by Rāvaṇa's onslaught, broke into weeping.
Words: tatas — then; tu — but; taṃ — him; patrarathaṃ — the bird; mahītale — on the earth's surface; nipātitaṃ — struck down; rāvaṇavegamarditam — crushed by Rāvaṇa's force; punaḥ — again; pariṣvajya — embracing; śaśiprabhānanā — with a face bright as the moon; ruroda — wept; sītā — Sītā; janakātmajā — the daughter of Janaka; tadā — then
← 3.48 Jaṭāyu confronts Rāvaṇa · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.50 Rāvaṇa seizes Sītā again →
Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.
Plain text: /text/3/49.md · JSON: /data/3/49.json