Vālmīki (Sanskrit: वाल्मीकि)
Introduction
Sampaati informs Angada about Seetha, Ravana, and Lanka after narrating his and his brother Jataayu’s flights and plights. Sampaati narrates what he has seen when Seetha was abducted by Ravana and concludes her to be Seetha for she was incessantly calling for Rama’s help. He gives an account of the lavish city Lanka as an eagle which has seen that city from this shore of ocean, though he cannot fly as the scorching sun previously burnt both of his wings. Then the returnless monkeys on getting a bare beacon of indication from the lighthouse called Sampaati, they feel highly rejoiced on the seashore.
इति उक्तः करुणम् वाक्यम् वानरैः त्यक्त जीवितैः |
स बाष्पो वानरान् गृध्रः प्रत्युवाच महास्वनः || ४-५८-१
sa baaShpo vaanaraan gR^idhraH pratyuvaaca mahaasvanaH || 4-58-1
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 4.58.1
When those monkeys whose lives are almost purged spoke to Sampaati with such dreary words, that thunder-voiced eagle tearfully spoke to those vanara-s. [4-58-1]
यवीयान् मम स भ्राता जटायुः नाम वानराः |
यम् आख्यात हतम् युद्धे रावणेन बलीयसा || ४-५८-२
yam aakhyaata hatam yuddhe raavaNena baliiyasaa || 4-58-2
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 4.58.2
“Oh, vanara-s, of whom it is enounced that mighty Ravana felled him in a combat, that one is my younger brother named Jatayu… [4-58-2]
वृद्ध भावात् अपक्षत्वात् शृण्वन् तत् अपि मर्षये |
न हि मे शक्तिः अद्य अस्ति भ्रातुः वैर विमोक्षणे || ४-५८-३
na hi me shaktiH adya asti bhraatuH vaira vimokShaNe || 4-58-3
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 4.58.3
“Even though I hear that my brother is slain I have to resign myself from any activity owing to my oldness and my winglessness, and presently I am indeed incapacitated to retaliate my brother’s enemy… [4-58-3]
पुरा वृत्र वधे वृत्ते स च अहम् च जय एषिणौ |
आदित्यम् उपयातौ स्वो ज्वलंतम् रश्मि मालिनम् || ४-५८-४
aadityam upayaatau svo jvala.ntam rashmi maalinam || 4-58-4
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 4.58.4
“Once, when the elimination of demon Vritta was taking place at the hand of Indra, we two eagle-brothers sportively desiring to surpass each other flew sunward, and we have gone very near to the scorch-rayed sun… [4-58-4]
आवृत्य आकाश मार्गेण जवेन स्वर् गतौ भृशम् |
मध्यम् प्राप्ते च सूर्ये च जटायुः अवसीदति || ४-५८-५
madhyam praapte ca suurye ca jaTaayuH avasiidati || 4-58-5
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 4.58.5
“Covering the skyway we have gone to firmament much speedily, then bechanced is noontide and thus bechanced is the scorching of the noontime sun, and then Jataayu started to founder… [4-58-5]
तम् अहम् भ्रातरम् दृष्ट्वा सूर्य रश्मिभिः अर्दितम् |
पक्षाभ्यम् छादयामास स्नेहात् परम विह्वलम् || ४-५८-६
pakShaabhyam chhaadayaamaasa snehaat parama vihvalam || 4-58-6
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 4.58.6
“On seeing him who is being thwarted by scorching sunrays, then I started to cover my highly fretful brother with both of my wings in all my brotherliness… [4-58-6]
निर्दग्ध पत्रः पतितो विन्ध्ये अहम् वानरर्षभाः |
अहम् अस्मिन् वसन् भ्रातुः प्रवृत्तिम् न उपलक्षये || ४-५८-७
aham asmin vasan bhraatuH pravR^ittim na upalakShaye || 4-58-7
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 4.58.7
“And oh, vanara-chiefs, when sunrays have utterly burned my wings I fell down on this Mt. Vindhya, and while living hereabouts constrainedly, I could pay no attention to my brother’s experiences or, at least his existence, or otherwise…” So lamented old Sampaati. [4-58-7]
जटायुषः तु एवम् उक्तो भ्रात्रा सम्पातिना तदा |
युव राजो महाप्राज्ञः प्रत्युवाच अंगदः तदा || ४-५८-८
yuva raajo mahaapraaj~naH pratyuvaaca a.ngadaH tadaa || 4-58-8
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 4.58.8
When Sampaati the brother of Jataayu spoke in that way, then the highly discerning crown prince Angada replied him. [4-58-8]
जटायुषो यदि भ्राता श्रुतम् ते गदितम् मया |
आख्याहि यदि जानासि निलयम् तस्य रक्षसः || ४-५८-९
aakhyaahi yadi jaanaasi nilayam tasya rakShasaH || 4-58-9
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 4.58.9
“If you are the brother of Jataayu, if you have heard whatever I have said in praise of Jataayu, and if you are aware of the whereabouts of Ravana… please tell it… [4-58-9]
अदीर्घ दर्शिनम् तम् वा रावणम् राक्षसाधिपम् |
अन्तिके यदि वा दूरे यदि जानासि शंस नः || ४-५८-१०
antike yadi vaa duure yadi jaanaasi shaMsa naH || 4-58-10
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 4.58.10
“If you are aware of the location of that bigoted and knavish demon Ravana, please inform us. Doesn’t matter whether that location is nearby or far off as we can search far and wide…” Thus Angada asked Sampaati. [4-58-10]
ततो अब्रवीत् महातेजा भ्राता ज्येष्ठो जटायुषः |
आत्म अनुरूपम् वचनम् वानरान् संप्रहर्षयन् || ४-५८-११
aatma anuruupam vacanam vaanaraan saMpraharShayan || 4-58-11
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 4.58.11
Then Sampaati, the high-spirited elder brother of Jataayu, spoke these words that are self-befitting and that would highly gladden the monkeys. [4-58-11]
निर्दग्ध पक्षो गृध्रो अहम् गत वीर्यः प्लवम् गमाः |
वाङ् मात्रेण तु रामस्य करिष्ये साह्यम् उत्तमम् || ४-५८-१२
vaa~N maatreNa tu raamasya kariShye saahyam uttamam || 4-58-12
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 4.58.12
“I am an eagle with utterly burnt wings and vanished valiance, even then, I wish to render a best service in the task of Rama, at least verbally… [4-58-12]
जानामि वारुणान् लोकान् विष्णोः त्रैविक्रमान् अपि |
देव असुर विमर्दाम् च हि अमृतस्य च मंथनम् || ४-५८-१३
deva asura vimardaam ca hi amR^itasya ca ma.nthanam || 4-58-13
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 4.58.13
“I have seen the netherworlds of Rain-god viz., earth and its substrata like atala. vitala, sutala, paataala terrains… and I have even seen those empyrean worlds that were triply trodden by Vishnu, and the intermediary regions of upper and lower worlds where gods and demons combated ghastlily, and because I am that aged I have also seen the unseeable Milky Ocean when it was churned for ambrosia… [4-58-13]
रामस्य यत् इदम् कार्यम् कर्तव्यम् प्रथमम् मया |
जरया च हतम् तेजः प्राणाः च शिथिला मम || ४-५८-१४
jarayaa ca hatam tejaH praaNaaH ca shithilaa mama || 4-58-14
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 4.58.14
“It is I who am to render service in this task of Rama firstly, than you vanara-s, as the common enemy of Rama and Jataayu is my first enemy, but I am decrepit as oldness has marred my vigour and vitality… [4-58-14]
तरुणी रूप संपन्ना सर्व आभरण भूषिता |
ह्रियमाणा मया दृष्टा रावणेन दुरात्मना || ४-५८-१५
क्रोशन्ती राम राम इति लक्ष्मण इति च भामिनी |
भूषणानि अपविध्यन्ती गात्राणि च विधुन्वती || ४-५८-१६
hriyamaaNaa mayaa dR^iShTaa raavaNena duraatmanaa || 4-58-15
kroshantii raama raama iti lakShmaNa iti ca bhaaminii |
bhuuShaNaani apavidhyantii gaatraaNi ca vidhunvatii || 4-58-16
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 4.58.15,16
“I have seen a youngish lady while she is being stolen away by the black-hearted demon Ravana. She richly in her mien, embellished with every befitting jewellery for a princess, and that lady in fury was bewailing calling, ‘Rama… Rama…’ even calling ‘Lakshmana…’ and she was throwing her ornaments down and her limbs were highly wriggly to set herself free from that demon… [4-58-15, 16]
सूर्य प्रभा इव शैल अग्रे तस्याः कौशेयम् उत्तमम् |
असिते राक्षसे भाति यथा वा तडित् अंबुदे || ४-५८-१७
asite raakShase bhaati yathaa vaa taDit aMbude || 4-58-17
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 4.58.17
“In the flank of that blackish demon her best ochry silk-sari was dazzling like sunshine atop a blackish mountain, or like lighting athwart a blackish ocean… [4-58-17]
Thus expression ambude taDit yathaa is also said as vidyut iva ambare – vidyut iva ambude in other mms, meaning ‘lightning with a backdrop of blue-black sky or ocean…’
ताम् तु सीताम् अहम् मन्ये रामस्य परिकीर्तनात् |
श्रूयताम् मे कथयतो निलयम् तस्य रक्षसः || ४-५८-१८
shruuyataam me kathayato nilayam tasya rakShasaH || 4-58-18
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 4.58.18
“Thus, I deem her to be Seetha by her excessive laudation of Rama, and let the location of that demon be heard from me while I say about it… [4-58-18]
पुत्रो विश्रवसः साक्षात् भ्राता वैश्रवणस्य च |
अध्यास्ते नगरीम् लंकाम् रावणो नाम राक्षसः || ४-५८-१९
adhyaaste nagariim la.nkaam raavaNo naama raakshasaH || 4-58-19
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 4.58.19
“Literally, he is the son of Vishravasa and brother of Kubera, and he presides over the city named Lanka and he is known as Ravana… [4-58-19]
Here the style of Valmiki is extolled. Jataayu tells the very same first foot of this verse in Aranya Kanda, and when he was about to say this verse’s second foot, he dies. It will be like this in Aranya Kanda at 3-68-16: putro vishravasaH saakshaat bhrataa vaishravaNasya ca | iti uktvaa durlabhaan praaNaan mumoca patageshvara || And if Jataayu would have said the second foot as above, stating that ‘he is Ravana and he is Lanka…’ there would be no Kishkindha canto, nor Vali, nor Sugreeva, nor even Hanuma, and his Sundara Kanda, as Rama would have gone to Lanka, straightaway. Ramayana is still living as great literary work because it has this kind of melodramatic montages on very many occasions. The family tree of Ravana is given in the endnote.
इतो द्वीपे समुद्रस्य संपूर्णे शत योजने |
तस्मिन् लंका पुरी रम्या निर्मिता विश्वकर्मणा || ४-५८-२०
tasmin la.nkaa purii ramyaa nirmitaa vishvakarmaNaa || 4-58-20
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 4.58.20
“There is a lavish city in the oceanic island afar a hundred yojana-s all in all from here, which Vishvakarma, the Divine-Architect, has built, and it is called Lanka. [4-58-20]
जांबूनदमयैः द्वारैः चित्रैः कांचन वेदिकैः |
प्रासादैः हेम वर्णैः च महद्भिः सुसमाकृता || ४-५८-२१
प्राकारेण अर्क वर्णेन महता च समन्विता |
praasaadaiH hema varNaiH ca mahadbhiH susamaakR^itaa || 4-58-21
praakaareNa arka varNena mahataa ca samanvitaa |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 4.58.21,22a
“Its multi-storied buildings are built very symmetrically and they will be in golden tinge with completely golden doors. The golden podia of verandas are amazing. That city is securely enclosed in a gigantic rampart that will be dazzling in the colour of sun… [4-58-21, 22a]
तस्याम् वसति वैदेही दीना कौशेय वासिनी || ४-५८-२२
रावण अन्तःपुरे रुद्धा राक्षसीभिः सुरक्षिता |
जनकस्य आत्मजाम् राज्ञः तस्याम् द्रक्ष्यथ मैथिलीम् || ४-५८-२३
raavaNa antaHpure ruddhaa raakShasiibhiH surakShitaa |
janakasya aatmajaam raaj~naH tasyaam drakShyatha maithiliim || 4-58-23
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 4.58.22b,23
“Therein that Lanka pitiable Vaidehi wearing ochry silk sari is lodged in the palace-chambers of Ravana, highly sentineled and baulked by demonesses, and you can find king Janaka’s daughter Maithili in there… [4-58-22b, 23]
The ochry silk sari is for continuity reasons. As there were no continuity girls or continuity men, [namely, the persons responsible for agreement of detail between different sessions of filming,] the poet himself became one and repeats this ‘gold-yellow-red coloured silk sari of Seetha…’ oft times.
लंकायाम् अथ गुप्तायाम् सागरेण समंततः |
संप्राप्य सागरस्य अंतम् संपूर्णम् शत योजनम् || ४-५८-२४
आसाद्य दक्षिणम् तीरम् ततो द्रक्ष्यथ रावणम् |
तत्र एव त्वरिताः क्षिप्रम् विक्रमध्वम् प्लवंगमाः || ४-५८-२५
saMpraapya saagarasya a.ntam saMpuurNam shata yojanam || 4-58-24
aasaadya dakShiNam tiiram tato drakShyatha raavaNam |
tatra eva tvaritaaH kShipram vikramadhvam plavaMgamaaH || 4-58-25
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 4.58.24,25
“Now, oh, fly-jumpers, first get to the other shore of the island in southern ocean, which ocean spans in an overalled width of hundred yojana-s from this side of seashore, then landing on the other seashore you can see Lanka secluded all around by ocean, and in such a water-walled Lanka you can see Ravana… hence, hurry up, and promptly triumph over Lanka… [4-58-24, 25]
ज्ञानेन खलु पश्यामि दृष्ट्वा प्रत्यागमिष्यथ |
आद्यः पंथाः कुलिंगानाम् ये च अन्ये धान्य जीविनः || ४-५८-२६
द्वितीयो बलि भोजानाम् ये च वृक्ष फल अशिनः |
भासाः तृतीयम् गच्छन्ति क्रौन्चाः च कुररैः सह || ४-५८-२७
श्येनाः चतुर्थम् गच्छन्ति गृध्रा गच्छन्ति पंचमम् |
aadyaH pa.nthaaH kuli.ngaanaam ye ca anye dhaanya jiivinaH || 4-58-26
dvitiiyo bali bhojaanaam ye ca vR^ikSha phala ashinaH |
bhaasaaH tR^itiiyam gacchhanti krauncaaH ca kuraraiH saha || 4-58-27
shyenaaH caturtham gacchhanti gR^idhraa gacchhanti pa.ncamam |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 4.58.26,27,28a
“I foresee by my prognosis that your sighting Seetha is definite at that place, and definite is your return from there. The first flight level of birds is that of the small Kulinga birds, house sparrows, songbirds and the like subsisting on food-grains. The second flight level is that of the birds that are the eaters of leftovers like crows and doves, or the eaters of tree-fruits like parrots. The third flight level is that of the wading birds like Bhaasa, Kraunca, Kurara birds and cranes, herons and the like. The fourth flight level is that of hawks and the fifth is that of the vultures. [4-58-26, 27, 28a]
बल वीर्य उपपन्नानाम् रूप यौवन शालिनाम् || ४-५८-२८
षष्ठः तु पन्था हंसानाम् वैनतेय गतिः परा |
वैनतेयात् च नः जन्म सर्वेषाम् वानरर्षभाः || ४-५८-२९
ShaShThaH tu panthaa haMsaanaam vainateya gatiH paraa |
vainateyaat ca naH janma sarveShaam vaanararShabhaaH || 4-58-29
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 4.58.28b,29
“And the sixth flight level is that of the swans which derive their valour, vigour, handsomeness and youthfulness by their majestic birth. But the uppermost path is that of the sons of Lady Vinata, namely the Divine Eagle Garuda, and Anuuru, the non-stopping charioteer of Sun. Because we eagles have our lineal descent from the Divine Eagle, we can soar to the uppermost flyable path and see keenly… [4-58-28b, 29]
Lady Vinata’s account is available in Aranya canto 14, where Jataayu gives accounts of procreation of birds. Anuuru and Garuda are two bird-sons of Vinata. Garuda is the eagle-vehicle of God Vishnu, while Aruna, also called Anuuru, an+uuruH ‘without, thighs – thigh-less being…’ is the charioteer of Sun’s seven-horse chariot. Further, Sun rides a single-wheeled chariot!?
Some quoting yajur veda say, that the chariot of Sun is not drwan by any seven horses, and the word sapta – in sapta ashva samArUDham etc is the name of only one horse drawing the chariot of Sun.
However, the seven horses of Sun’s chariot are generally taken the seven – vibgyor – colours of light as in a rainbow. Aruna, the Colour of Dawn, is another aspect of Anuuru that appears before the advent of the Sun himself. These two are of avian origination and attributed to be the speediest propellers. And Jataayu and Sampaati, for that matter of fact, all eagles belong to that lineage, for their keen vision and powerful flight.
गर्हितम् तु कृतम् कर्म येन स्म पिशित अशनाः |
प्रतिकार्यम् च मे तस्य वैरम् भ्रातृ कृतम् भवेत् ||४-५८-३०
pratikaaryam ca me tasya vairam bhraatR^i kR^itam bhavet ||4-58-30
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 4.58.30
“By which raw-flesh-eating demon this deplorable deed of abducting Seetha is done, if that demon is retaliated by Rama and you all, my vendetta towards the very same demon, caused by his animosity towards my brother Jataayu will also be fulfilled… [4-58-30]
इह स्थः अहम् प्रपश्यामि रावणम् जानकीम् तथा |
अस्माकम् अपि सौपर्णम् दिव्यम् चक्षुर् बलम् तथा || ४-५८-३१
asmaakam api sauparNam divyam cakShur balam tathaa || 4-58-31
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 4.58.31
“Staying here I am clearly seeing Ravana and like that Janaki… even for us eagles, our sight and power will be excellent like that of Garuda, the Divine Eagle… [4-58-31]
तस्मात् आहार वीर्येण निसर्गेण च वानराः |
आयोजन शतात् साग्रात् वयम् पश्याम नित्यशः || ४-५८-३२
aayojana shataat saagraat vayam pashyaama nityashaH || 4-58-32
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 4.58.32
“Thereby, oh, vanara-s, dietetically and congenitally we eagles can always see till the end of hundred yojana-s, comprehensively… [4-58-32]
The expression ‘dietetically and lineally’ indicates as to why eagle always prefers fresh meat unlike vultures subsisting on carrion. It is only for the enrichment of their sight, might and flight.
atra aahaara vireyaNa iti uktyaa maamsa vishesha bhakShaNa shiilaanaam gR^idhraaNaam cakShushya maamsa bhakShaNena duura darshana saamardhyam uktam | nisargeNa iti visheShaNena ca jaati svabhaavyaat api duura darshitam uktam | tadaa api vaidya nighaNTo – daaskhasye duura druma agre vajra cuncu su dR^iShTikaH – iti | ca kaareNa anirodhena vaativiNmuutraadi utsargaadikam cakShuShyam iti ukatam – dk Thus, the innate, fixed, pattern of behaviour in kingly eagles is recorded in response to certain stimuli.
अस्माकम् विहिता वृत्तिः निसार्गेण च दूरतः |
विहिता पाद मूले तु वृत्तिः चरण योधिनाम् || ४-५८-३३
vihitaa paada muule tu vR^ittiH caraNa yodhinaam || 4-58-33
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 4.58.33
“The leg-fighters, namely cocks, are destined to have their livelihood just at the base of their feet, but our livelihood is to be obtained from the farthest… alas… [4-58-33]
For living beings if one thing is on plus’s side, just at its back a minus point will also be there, like a night after day, sorrow after rejoice. Eagles may see long or fly high, but food for them is a rarity. Here Sampaati is self-piteous, as his son has not yet arrived bringing food for that day.
उपायो दृश्यताम् कश्चित् लंघने लवण अंभसः |
अभिगम्य तु वैदेहीम् समृद्ध अर्था गमिष्यथ || ४-५८-३४
abhigamya tu vaidehiim samR^iddha arthaa gamiShyatha || 4-58-34
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 4.58.34
“Let some idea be searched to leap the salty ocean. For sure, you will return to Kishkindha on your finding Vaidehi, and on your becoming productive of you objective… [4-58-34]
समुद्रम् नेतुम् इच्छामि भवद्भिः वरुण आलयम् |
प्रदास्यामि उदकम् भ्रातुः स्वर् गतस्य महात्मनः || ४-५८-३५
pradaasyaami udakam bhraatuH svar gatasya mahaatmanaH || 4-58-35
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 4.58.35
“I wish you would shift me to the residence of Rain-god, namely the ocean, for oblating water in respect of my great-souled brother Jataayu who departed to heaven…” Thus Sampaati spoke to the monkeys. [4-58-35]
ततो नीत्वा तु तम् देशम् तीरे नद नदी पतेः |
निर्दग्ध पक्षम् संपातिम् वानराः सुमहौओजसः || ४-५८-३६
तम् पुनः प्रत्यानयित्वा वै तम् देशम् पतग ईश्वरम् |
बभूवुः वानरा हृष्टाः प्रवृत्तिम् उपलभ्य ते || ४-५८-३७
nirdagdha pakSham saMpaatim vaanaraaH sumahauojasaH || 4-58-36
tam punaH pratyaanayitvaa vai tam desham pataga iishvaram |
babhuuvuH vaanaraa hR^iShTaaH pravR^ittim upalabhya te || 4-58-37
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 4.58.36,37
Then those vanara-s of utmost dynamism on taking wing-burnt-bird Sampaati to the husband rivulets and rivers, namely the ocean, placed him on the shoreline. Again, the vanara-s sincerely brought back that king of birds, Sampaati, after his offering oblations to Jataayu, and lodged him as a returnee at his own place. On deriving indication form Sampaati regarding Seetha, Ravana and Lanka, those returnless vanara-s returned to their search while their gladness returning to them. [4-58-36, 37]
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