English
The Sacrifice of Jatayu
Source: Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kanda (Sargas 49–51 and 67–68)
At Panchavati, through Maricha's trickery, both Rama and Lakshmana were drawn far from the hermitage. Finding Sita alone, Ravana came disguised as a wandering ascetic, then took on his true form and forced her onto his chariot.
The chariot flew through the sky towards the south. Sita kept crying out, “O Rama! O Lakshmana!” She called upon the forest, the mountains and the river to tell Rama that Ravana was carrying her away.
Just then her eyes fell on the aged king of vultures, Jatayu, perched on a tree. “Noble Jatayu! See how this wicked Ravana carries me off as if I had no one. Be sure to tell Rama and Lakshmana.”
Jatayu had been a friend of King Dasharatha. Roused by Sita's cry, he addressed Ravana: “Ten-headed one, I have lived by dharma for sixty thousand years. Carrying off another man's wife does not become any king. Let Sita go.”
Then he said, “I am old and you are young, armoured, armed with bow and arrows and riding a chariot. Even so, as long as I live, you shall not take Sita away.”
Ravana flew into a rage and fell upon Jatayu. A terrible battle broke out in the sky: on one side the ten-headed king of the rakshasas, loaded with weapons, and on the other an old bird with nothing but his wings, his beak and his talons.
Jatayu fought with astonishing valour. With his talons he broke Ravana's bow, struck down the donkeys yoked to the chariot, killed the charioteer and smashed the chariot to pieces. Ravana fell to the ground with Sita in his arms.
But Jatayu was old, and the fight wore him out. Seizing his chance, Ravana drew his sword and cut off Jatayu's wings, his feet and his flanks. Covered in blood, Jatayu fell to the earth.
Sita ran to him, held him close and wept as one weeps for one's own kin. But Ravana seized her again and carried her through the sky towards Lanka.
Meanwhile Rama and Lakshmana, searching for Sita, reached that same spot. Seeing Jatayu drenched in blood, Rama at first took him for a rakshasa who had devoured Sita, and raised his bow. Then Jatayu said in a faint voice, “Long-lived one, the lady you are searching for and my life too, Ravana has taken both.”
He told them that Ravana had gone south with Sita. Then he said, “Ravana carried her off at the hour called Vinda. Whatever is lost at that hour soon returns to its owner. Do not grieve; you will surely find Sita.”
He wanted to tell them more about Ravana, “He is the son of Vishravas, the brother of Kubera…” but as he said this, his life left him.
Rama's eyes filled with tears. “Lakshmana, this king of vultures was as worthy of honour as my own father. He gave his life for me.” With his own hands Rama performed Jatayu's last rites, as a son does for his father, and offered water for him. Jatayu attained the highest worlds.
What this story teaches
Jatayu knew he could not win, yet he would not stay silent before injustice. A sacrifice made to protect dharma is never small.
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