Chapter CXXXI: Section LVI

When the monkeys had been seated in that mountain, with the intention of putting a period to their existence through fasting, a king of vultures happened to come to that quarter. And that long-lived bird was named Sampati, the beautiful brother of Jatayu, famous for his strength and prowess. Issuing from a cavern of the mighty mountain Vindhya, he, seeing the monkeys seated, well pleased, said-- "Verily man[178] reapeth the fruit of his former acts; and therefore it is that this food ordained to that end, comes to me after a long time. I shall feed on these monkeys, one by one, slaying them one after another." Eying those apes, the bird expressed himself thus. Hearing this speech of the bird coveting his food, Angada faintly spoke to Hanuman, "Behold! through Sita's simplicity[179] this one--the very son of the Sun, Yama--hath come to this place, to exterminate the monkeys. Rama's work hath not been done; nor the royal mandate. And this disaster hath arrived unthought of by the monkeys. Ye have in detail heard all that, inspired with the desire of doing what is good unto Vaidehi, that king of vultures, Jatayu, did here. In this way, all creatures, even the brute species, compass the welfare of Rama, renouncing their lives, as we do. It is because of the love and tenderness[180] they bear towards (Rama), that people do good unto each other. And therefore the righteous Jatayu, of his own accord laying down his life, hath done the pleasure of Rama. We also, overcome with fatigue and (almost) dying, have come to this forest; but Mithila's daughter we find not. Happy is that king of vultures, having been slain by Ravana in battle. He hath got quit of the fear of Sugriva, and hath also attained supreme state. In consequence of the death of Jatayu and that of king Dacaratha, as well as owing to the ravishment of Vaidehi, (the lives of) the monkeys have come into jeopardy. Rama's and Lakshmana's abode in the forest with Sita, Raghava's slaying of Vali with a shaft, the slaughter of innumerable Rakshasas by the enraged Rama, and (finally) this mishap--all these owe their orgin to the bestowal of the boon on Kaikeyi." Seeing the monkeys stretched on the earth, and hearing their piteous words describing their grief, that magnanimous king of vultures, with his mind agitated, said (this). And hearing the words that issued from Angada's mouth, the sharp-beaked and high-toned vulture, said,-- "Who is it that, making my mind tremble, speaketh of the death of my brother, Jatayu, dearer unto me than life? How happened in Janasthana the fight between the Rakshasa and the vulture? It is after a long time that to-day I hear the name of my brother. I wish to alight from this mountain-fastness. I have been well pleased by listening after a long time to the celebration of the virtues of my younger brother, cognizant of qualities and worthy of being extolled by reason of his prowess. Ye foremost of monkeys, I wish to hear of the destruction of Jatayu, who dwelt in Janasthana. And how could Dacaratha, whose beloved eldest son is Rama, dear unto his superiors, be the friend of my brother? I can not move in consequence of my wings having been burnt by the solar rays. But I wish that ye may take me down from this mountain."

[178] Although out of character, the epithet _naram--man (acc.)_--is
used by the vulture.--T.

[179] Another reading is _Gridhra padesana--through the vulture's
cunning_. This the commentator considers as preferrable.--T.

[180] The commentator explains in pure orthodox fashion: _Because
everything is in Rama, people serve each other from the love and
tenderness, which pertain to him.--T._