Introduction
Sampaati hears about Jataayu’s death when Angada cites it while lamenting for their misfortune. He praises that Jataayu is better off than the vanara-s for he encountered Ravana and attained martyrdom. On listening his brother’s name and news of his death, Sampaati, who firstly wanted to gluttonise all the vanara-s, seeks their help to lower him down from mountain heights, to listen more of his brother Jataayu.
Verse 1 & 2
उपविष्टाः तु ते सर्वे यस्मिन् प्रायम् गिरि स्थले |
हरयो गृध्र राजः च तम् देशम् उपचक्रमे || ४-५६-१
सांपातिः नाम नाम्ना तु चिर जीवी विहंगमः |
भ्राता जटायुषः श्रीमान् प्रख्यात बल पौरुषः || ४-५६-२
At which mountain’s tableland those monkeys sat down for self-immolation, to that area the elder brother of Jataayu, a kingly eagle known as Sampaati by name, one renowned one for his forcefulness and aggressiveness, and a celebrated and sempiternal sky-flying eagle has arrived. [4-56-1, 2]
1, 2. te sarve harayaH = those, all, monkeys; yasmin giri sthale = at which, mountain, tableland; praayam upaviSTaaH tu = self-immolation, sat down; tam desham = to that, area; cira jiivii = long, lived [sempiternal]; gR^idhra raajaH = eagle, kingly; naamnaa saampaatiH naama = by name, Sampaati, known as; jaTaayuSaH bhraataa = Jataayu’s, brother; shriimaan = celebrated one; prakhyaata bala pauruSaH = one renowned, for forcefulness, aggressiveness; vihamgamaH upacakrame = sky-flyer [eagle,] arrived there.
Verse 3
कंदरात् अभिनिष्क्रम्य स विन्ध्यस्य महागिरेः |
उपविष्टान् हरीन् दृष्ट्वा हृष्टात्मा गिरम् अब्रवीत् || ४-५६-३
On coming out of the cave of the great-mountain Vindhya, Sampaati is gladden at heart to see the monkeys sitting down there, and he spoke these words. [4-56-3]
3. saH = he [Sampaati]; mahaa gireH = from great-mountain; vindhyasya = of Vindhya; kandaraat = from cave; abhi niS kramya = on coming out; upaviSTaan hariin dR^iSTvaa = those who sat down, monkeys, on seeing; hR^iSTa atmaa giram abraviit = gladdened, at heart, words, spoke.
Verse 4
विधिः किल नरम् लोके विधानेन अनुवर्तते |
यथा अयम् विहितो भक्ष्यः चिरात् मह्यम् उपागतः || ४-५६-४
“Whether it is good or bad, fate indeed follows humans in this world procedurally, why because, this fated and long-waited food has now come nigh of me… [4-56-4]
4. loke = in world; vidhiH = fate / god; vidhaanena = procedurally [fatefully]; naram = after human; anuvartate kila = follows, indeed; yathaa = why because; ciraat = long-awaited; mahyam vihitaH = to me, fated; ayam bhakSyaH upa aagataH = this, food, came nigh of me.
Verse 5
परंपराणाम् भक्षिष्ये वानराणाम् मृतम् मृतम् |
उवाच एतत् वचः पक्षी तान् निरीक्ष्य प्लवंगमान् || ४-५६-५
“I wish to eat them frugally, killing one by one and eating one by one, preying on one on one day, and then preying upon the other on the other day…” thus that bird spoke those words on seeing the massy fly-jumpers. [4-56-5]
5. vaanaraaNaam paramparaaNaam = of vanara-s, in the series; mR^itam mR^itam = dead one, on dying – whoever is dead while fasting, or, whomever I kill sequentially; bhakSiSye = I wish to eat; taan plavamgamaan niriikSya = them, fly-jumpers, on seeing; pakSii = bird Sampaati; etat vacaH uvaaca = these, words spoke.
Verse 6
तस्य तत् वचनम् श्रुत्वा भक्ष लुब्धस्य पक्षिणः |
अंगदः परम् आयस्तो हनूमंतम् अथ अब्रवीत् || ४-५६-६
On hearing the words of that gormandising bird, Angada became highly breathless and then spoke to Hanuma. [4-56-6]
6. bhakSa lubdhasya = food, greedy [gormandising]; tasya pakSiNaH tat vacanam shrutvaa = that, bird’s, that, word, on hearing; atha = then; angadaH param aayastaH = Angada, becoming highly, breathless; hanuumantam abraviit = to Hanuma, spoke.
Verse 7
पश्य सीता – गृध्रा – अपदेशेन साक्षात् वैवस्वतो यमः |
इमम् देशम् अनुप्राप्तो वानराणाम् विपत्तये || ४-५६-७
“Look! In the name of an eagle, the son of the Sun, Yama, the Terminator, has manifestly arrived at this area for the fatality of monkeys… thus ill luck is still haunting us… [4-56-7]
7. siitaa apadeshena = Seetha, in the name of; [or, gR^idhraa apadeshena = eagle, in the name of]; vaivasvataH yamaH = Sun’s son, Yama, the Terminator; saakSaat = manifestly; vaanaraaNaam vipattaye = for monkeys’, fatality; imam desham anupraaptaH = to this, area, arrived; pashya = look.
Verse 8
रामस्य न कृतम् कार्यम् न कृतम् राज शाशनम् |
हरीणाम् इयम् अज्ञाता विपत्तिः सहसा आगता || ४-५६-८
“We fulfilled neither Rama’s task, nor the decree of our king, but this unknown catastrophe has abruptly bechanced for the monkeys… [4-56-8]
8. raamasya kaaryam na kR^itam = Rama’s, task, not, done; raaja shaashanam na kR^itam = king’s, decree, not, done; by us; hariiNaam = for monkeys; iyam a j~naataa vipattiH = this, not, known, catastrophe; sahasaa aagataa = abruptly, bechanced.
Verse 9
वैदेह्याः प्रिय कामेन कृतम् कर्म जटायुषा |
गृध्र राजेन यत् तत्र श्रुतम् वः तत् अशेषतः || ४-५६-९
“You all have heard in its entirety what deed the kingly Jataayu has done wishing to do good to Vaidehi… [4-56-9]
9. vaidehyaaH priya kaamena = for Vaidehi, to please [to do good,] wishing to; gR^idhra raajena = eagle, by kingly; jaTaayuSaa = by Jataayu; tatra = there [in Janasthaana]; yat karma kR^itam = which, deed, is done; tat = that – deed of confronting Ravana; a sheSataH = without, remainder [completely]; vaH shrutam = by you al, heard.
Verse 10
तथा सर्वाणि भूतानि तिर्यक् योनि गतानि अपि |
प्रियम् कुर्वन्ति रामस्य त्यक्त्वा प्राणान् यथा वयम् || ४-५६-१०
“Like that all beings, even those birthed in animality, are doing what that is agreeable to Rama even on forgoing their own lives, as with us… [4-56-10]
10. tathaa = like that; tiryak yoni gataani api = in animal, uterus, gone in [birthed in animality,] even; sarvaaNi bhuutaani = all, beings; praaNaan tyaktvaa = lives. o forgoing; raamasya priyam kurvanti = for Rama, agreeable things, are doing; yathaa vayam = as with, us.
Verse 11
अन्योन्यम् उपकुर्वन्ति स्नेह कारुण्य यन्त्रिताः |
ततः तस्य उपकार अर्थम् त्यजत आत्मानम् आत्मना || ४-५६-११
“Even animals will be mutually succouring by their instinct of concern and camaraderie, therefore, let each of us leave off our souls, soulfully… [4-56-11]
11. sneha kaaruNya yantritaaH = camaraderie, concern, by instinct; [tiryak yoni gataani api = in animal, uterus, birthed in, even]; anyonyam upakurvanti = mutually, succouring; tataH = therefore; tasya = for his [Rama’s]; upakaara artham = succour, for purpose of; aatmaanam aatmanaa tyajata = one’s self [soul,] by oneself [soulfully,] may leave off.
Verse 12 & 13a
प्रियम् कृत्वा हि रामस्य धर्मज्ञेन जटायुषा |
राघव अर्थे परिश्रान्ता वयम् संत्यक्त जीविताः || ४-५६-१२
कांताराणि प्रपन्नाः स्म न च पश्याम मैथिलीम् |
“Conscientious Jataayu has done a deed much liked by Rama, and we too have been trekking the forests without caring even for our lives in the cause of Rama, but we have not seen Maithili… [4-56-12, 13a]
12, 13a. dharmaj~nena jaTaayuSaa = right, knowing [conscientious,] by Jataayu; raamasya priyam kR^itvaa hi = for Rama, likable [act,] is done, isn’t it; vayam = we [too]; raaghava arthe = = Raghava, in the cause of; parishraantaa = overtired; samtyakta jiivitaaH = on leaving [the fear of,] our lives – without caring for our lives; kaantaaraaNi prapannaaH sma = in forests, obtained, we have; maithiliim na ca pashyaama = Maithili, not, even, we saw.
Verse 13b & 13c
स सुखी गृध्र राजः तु रावणेन हतो रणे |
मुक्तः च सुग्रीव भयात् गतः च परमाम् गतिम् || ४-५६-१३
“He that kingly eagle Jataayu who is killed by Ravana is a happy soul, and he is even relieved from the fear of Sugreeva as he departed on the Avenue of Sublimity… [4-56-13b, c]
13b, 13c. raNe raavaNena hataH = in combat, by Ravana, one who is killed; saH gR^idhra raajaH tu = he that, eagle, kingly one, on his part; sukhii = a happy [soul]; sugriiva bhayaat muktaH ca = from Sugreeva, fear of, relieved, also; paramaam gatim gataH ca = Sublimity, on Avenue, departed, also.
Verse 14
जटायुषो विनाशेन राज्ञो दशरथस्य च |
हरणेन च वैदेह्याः संशयम् हरयो गताः || ४-५६-१४
“By the ending of Jataayu and by the end of Dasharatha, also by the purloin of Vaidehi, all of the monkeys are piled into a predicament… [4-56-14]
14. jaTaayuSaH vinaashena = Jataayu’s, by the ending; raaj~naH dasharathasya ca = king, Dasharatha’s [end,] also; vaidehyaaH haraNena ca = of Vaidehi, purloin, also; harayaH samshayam gataaH = monkeys, in doubt [predicament,] piled into.
Verse 15 & 16
राम लक्ष्मणयोः वासाम् अरण्ये सह सीतया |
राघवस्य च बाणेन वालिनः च तथा वधः || ४-५६-१५
राम कोपात् अशेषाणाम् राक्षसाम् च तथा वधम् |
कैकेय्या वर दानेन इदम् च विकृतम् कृतम् || ४-५६-१६
“Just by giving boons to Kaikeyi, the quandaries like Rama’s dwelling in forests along with Seetha and Lakshmana, as a result Rama’s fury eliminating complete demons of Janasthaana, and as a result Raghava’s arrow exterminating Val, have come to pass.” Thus Angada is lamenting. [4-56-15,16]
15, 16. kaikeyyaa vara daanena = to Kaikeyi, boon, by giving; siitayaa saha = Seetha, along with; araNye = in forest; raama lakSmaNayoH = of Rama, Lakshmana; vaasaam = dwelling; tathaa = as a result; raaghavasya baaNena = by Raghava’s, arrow; vaalinaH vadhaH ca = Vali’s, slaying, also; tathaa = as a result; raama kopaat = Rama, by fury; a sheSaaNaam = without, leftovers; raakSasaam vadham ca = of demons, eliminating, also; idam vi kR^itam ca = this, wrong, deed [quandary,] also; kR^itam = is done [bechanced.]
Verse 17
तत् असुखम् अनुकीर्तितम् वचो
भुवि पतितान् च निरीक्ष्य वानरान् |
भृश चकित मतिः महामतिः
कृपणम् उदाहृतवान् स गृध्रराजः || ४-५६-१७
On observing the monkeys who lay recumbent on ground and on hearing them eulogising the death of Jataayu he that king of eagles Sampaati is highly perturbed at that uncomfortable information about Jatayu, and that high minded Sampaati sorrowfully spelled out this word. [4-56-17]
17. anu kiirtitam = eulogised; a sukham = not, comfortable; tat vacaH = that, word – that information; [shrutvaa = on hearing]; bhuvi patitaan vaanaraan niriikshya = on ground, fallen [lay recumbent,] at monkeys, on observing; mahaamatiH = high, minded; saH gR^idhra rajaH [raaT] = he, eagles, king; bhR^isha = highly; cakita = perturbed; matiH = with mind; kR^ipaNam udaahR^itavaan = sorrowfully, spelled out – said word to the wise.
Verse 18
तत् तु श्रुत्वा तदा वाक्यम् अंगदस्य मुख उद्गतम् |
अब्रवीत् वचनम् गृध्रः तीक्ष्ण तुण्डो महास्वनः || ४-५६-१८
That shredder-billed eagle Sampaati said this sentence voicing thunderously on hearing words voiced by Angada. [4-56-18]
18. tiikSNa tuNDaH = sharp [shredder,] billed; mahaa svanaH = thunderously, voicing; gR^idhraH = eagle; angadasya mukha udgatam = from Angada’s, mouth, came out; tadaa = thus; tat vaakyam shrutvaa = that, sentence, on hearing; vacanam abraviit = sentence, said.
Verse 19
को अयम् गिरा घोषयति प्राणैः प्रियतरस्य मे |
जटायुषो वधम् भ्रातुः कंपयन् इव मे मनः || ४-५६-१९
“Who speaks to announce as though to quake my heart that Jatayu, the more precious brother of mine than my own lives, is slain? [4-56-19]
19. me to me; praaNaiH priya tarasya = by lives, precious, more than; bhraatuH jaTaayuSaH vadham = of [my] bother, Jataayu’s, about slaying; me manaH kampayan iva = my, heart, to quake, as though; giraa ghoSayati = by speech, who announces; ayam kaH = this one, who is.
Verse 20
कथम् आसीत् जनस्थाने युद्धम् राक्षस गृध्रयोः |
नामधेयम् इदम् भ्रातुः चिरस्य अद्य मया श्रुतम् || ४-५६-२०
“How a combat occasioned between that eagle and a demon in Janasthaana, and how am I hearing this name of my brother after a long time… [4-56-20]
20. janasthaane = in Janasthaana; raakshasa gR^idhrayoH = between demon, eagle; yuddham = combat; katham aasiit = how, occasioned; bhraatuH idam naamadheyam = of brother this, name; mayaa adya = by me, today; cirasya shrutam = after a long time, heard.
Verse 21 & 22a
इच्छेयम् गिरि दुर्गात् च भवद्भिः अवतारितुम् |
यवीयसो गुणज्ञस्य श्लाघनीयस्य विक्रमैः || ४-५६-२१
अति दीर्घस्य कालस्य परितुष्टो अस्मि कीर्तितनात् |
“I wish you to get me down from these mountain soars. After a long time I have heard about my younger brother who is straightforward, praiseworthy for his valour, and I am glad that too spoke of him praisefully… [4-56-21, 22a]
21, 22a. giri durgaat = from mountain, soars; bhavadbhiH ava taaritum = by you, to down, lowered; icCheyam = I wish to; guNa j~nasya = virtue, knower – straightforward; vikramaiH shlaaghaniiyasya = by valour, praiseworthy; yaviiyasaH = of younger brother; ati diirghasya kaalasya = after much, long, time; kiirtitanaat = by [your] praising; parituSTaH asmi = gladdened, I am.
Verse 22b & 23a
तत् इच्छेयम् अहम् श्रोतुम् विनाशम् वानर ऋषभाः || ४-५६-२२
भ्रातुः जटायुषः तस्य जनस्थान निवासिनः |
“Thereby, oh, best vanara-s, I wish to listen about the death of my brother Jataayu when he was in Janasthaana… [4-56-22b, 23a]
22b, 23a. vaanara R^iSabhaaH = oh, vanara, bullish ones – best ones; tat = thereby; aham = I; janasthaana nivaasinaH = in Janasthaana, dweller – when he was in bhraatuH = [as he is my] brother; tasya jaTaayuSaH = of his, of Jataayu; vinaasham shrotum icCheyam = of death, to listen, I wish to.
Verse 23b & 24a
तस्य एव च मम भ्रातुः सखा दशरथः कथम् || ४-५६-२३
यस्य रामः प्रियः पुत्रो ज्येष्ठो गुरु जन प्रियः |
“Whose eldest and dear son is Rama, the creditable one for doyens, that Dasharatha is the friend of my brother Jatayu/ But how did Dasharatha pass away? [4-56-23b, 24a]
23b, 24a. guru jana priyaH raamaH = for doyen, people, pleasant [creditable to,] Rama; yasya = whose [Dasharatha’s]; priyaH putraH jyeSThaH = dear, son, eldest one; dasharathaH = [such a] Dasharatha; mama bhraatuH tasya eva ca sakhaa = my, bother, his [to Jataayu,] alone, also, friend; katham [mR^itam] = how, [died.]
Verse 24b & c
सूर्य अंशु दग्ध पक्षत्वात् न शक्नोमि विसर्पितुम् |
इच्छेयम् पर्वतात् अस्मात् अवतर्तुम् अरिन्दमाः || ४-५६-२४
“I am incapable to spread my wings widely as they are burnt by Sun’s rays, hence oh, enemy-chasteners, I wish you to lower me down from this mountain…” Thus Sampaati sought for the help of monkeys. [4-56-24b, c]
24b, c. arindamaaH = oh, enemy-chasteners; suurya amshu dagdha pakSatvaat = by Sun’s, rays, burnt, owing to such wings; vi sarpitum = to widely, spread – lessened wing-spread; na shaknomi = not, capable I am; [tasmaat = therefore]; asmaat parvataat = from this, mountain; ava tartum = down, climb; icCheyam = I wish to.
