Summary
Rama and the other two on their way to Panchavati come into contact with Jataayu, the mighty eagle. When Rama questions about its identity, Jataayu narrates the creation of animal species along with humans, and informs Rama that he is a friend of King Dasharatha and would like to help Rama in exile.
Chapter [Sarga] 14 in Detail
atha pancavatiim gacchann antaraa raghunandanah |
aasasaada mahaakaayam gridhram bhiima paraakramam || 3-14-1
Then while proceeding to Panchavati that Rahu's descendent came across a mammoth eagle with marvelous might in midway. [3-14-1]
tam dristvaa tau mahaabhaagau vanastham raama laksmanau |
menaate raaksasam paksim bruvaanau ko bhavaan iti || 3-14-2
On seeing such an eagle in the forest those two highly privileged brothers Rama and Lakshmana questioned it asking, "Who you are?" presuming it to be a demon. [3-14-2]
sa tau madhurayaa vaacaa saumyayaa priinayann iva |
uvaaca vatsa maam viddhi vayasyam pitur aatmanah || 3-14-3
But that eagle with sweet ad soft words spoke to them as though to please them, "oh boy Rama know me as your father's friend." [3-14-3]
sa tam pitri sakham matvaa puujayaamaasa raaghavah |
sa tasya kulam avyagram atha papraccha naama ca || 3-14-4
Accepting that bird as his father's friend Raghava revered it, and he that Rama then asked for that eagle's name and lineage. [3-14-4]
raamasya vacanam shrutvaa kulam aatmaanam eva ca |
aacacakse dvijah tasmai sarvabhuuta samudbhavam || 3-14-5
On hearing Rama's words that bird said about his ancestry and himself, and in doing so, that eagle also narrated the overall genesis of all beings. [3-14-5]
puurvakaale mahaabaaho ye prajaapatayo abhavan |
taan me nigadatah sarvaan aaditah shrinu raaghava || 3-14-6
"Once upon a time there were lords of people, oh dexterous Raghava, and you may listen all about them from the beginning, while I narrate [3-14-6]
kardamah prathamah tesaam vikritah tad anantaram |
shesah ca sa.mshrayah caiva bahu putrah ca viiryavaan || 3-14-7
sthaanur mariicir atrih ca kratuh caiva mahaabalah |
pulastyah ca a.ngiraah caiva pracetaah pulahah tathaa || 3-14-8
dakso vivasvaan aparo aristanemih ca raaghava |
kashyapah ca mahaatejaah tesaam aasiit ca pashcimah || 3-14-9
"Of them Kardama was there at first, and afterwards Sesha, and later Samshraya was there with many children and a vigorous one he was. Then Sthaanu, Mariichi, Atri, the great mighty one Kratu, Pulasthya, Angira, Pracheta and Pulah were there. And oh, Raghava, Daksha, Vivasvan were while the other name of Vivasvan is Arishtanemi, and lastly the great resplendent Kashyapa, was there as Prajapati. [3-14-9] [3-14-7]
prajaapateh tu daksasya babhuuvur iti vishrutam |
sastir duhitaro raama yashasvinyo mahaayashah || 3-14-10
"Oh glorious Rama, there were sixty highly renowned daughters to Daksha, thus we hear. [3-14-10]
kashyapah pratijagraaha taasaam astau sumadhyamaah |
aditim ca ditim caiva danuum api ca kaalakaam || 3-14-11
taamraam krodha vashaam caiva manum ca apy analaam api |
"Of them Kashyapa accepted eight slender-waist daughters of Daksha Prajapati, namely Aditi, Diti, Danu, Kaalakaa and Taamra, Krodhavasha, also thus Manu and even Anala also as wives. [3-14-11, 12a]
taah tu kanyaah tatah priitah kashyapah punar abraviit || 3-14-12
putraamh trailokya bhartrin vai janayisyatha mat samaan |
"Then Kashyapa is gladdened and said to those young wives, "You all shall deliver sons similar to me and who can sustain the three worlds." [3-14-12b, 13a]
aditih tan manaa raama ditih ca danur eva ca || 3-14-13
kaalakaa ca mahaabaaho shesaah tu amanaso abhavan |
"Oh, dexterous Rama, Aditi, Diti, Kaalakaa and Danu have agreed for that, but others became un-heedful of Kashyapa's words. [3-14-13b, 14a]
adityaam jajnire devaah trayah tri.mshat ari.ndama || 3-14-14
aadityaa vasavo rudraa ashvinau ca paramtapa |
"Aditi gave birth to twelve Aditya-s, the Sun-gods, eight Vasu-s, the Terrestrials-gods, eleven Rudra-s, the Fury-gods, and two Ashvini’s, the medicine-gods, total thirty-three of them. [3-14-14b, 15a]
ditih tu ajanayat putraan daityaam taata yashasvinah || 3-14-15
tesaam iyam vasumatii puraa aasiit sa vana arnavaa |
"Oh, boy Rama, Diti gave birth to well-known Daitya-s, the so-called demons, and earlier this earth with forests and oceans belonged to them. [3-14-15b, 16a]
danuh tu ajanayat putram ashvagriivam ari.mdama || 3-14-16
narakam kaalakam caiva kaalakaa api vyajaayata |
"And oh, enemy-destroyer Rama, Danu gave birth to son Ashvagriiva or also called Hayagriiva, Horse-headed god, and Kaalakaa gave birth to Naraka and Kaalaka. [3-14-16b, 17a]
kraunciim bhaasiim tathaa shyeniim dhritaraastriim tathaa shukiim || 3-14-17
taamraa tu susuve kanyaah pa.nca etaa lokavishrutaah |
"But Taamra gave birth to five world renowned girls namely, Krounchi, Bhaasii, Shyenii, Dhritaraashtrii, and Shukii. [3-14-17b, 18a]
uluukaan janayat krauncii bhaasii bhaasaan vyajaayata || 3-14-18
shyenii shyenaam ca gridhraama ca vyajaayata sutejasah |
dhritaraastrii tu ha.msaam ca kalaha.msaam ca sarvashah || 3-14-19
"And from each of the five daughters of Taamra in turn emanated are the other avian species, where Kraunchii gave birth to Uluuka-s, the owls, Bhasii-s gave birth to Bhaasaa-s, the vultures, and Shyenii gave birth to very sharp eagles and falcons, and then Dhritaraashtrii gave birth to swans and all other kinds of graceful water-birds. [3-14-18b, 19]
cakravaakaam ca bhadram te vijajne saa api bhaaminii |
shukii nataam vijajne tu nataayaa vinataa sutaa || 3-14-20
"Dhritaraashtrii gave birth even to Chakrawaka water-birds, and Shukii gave birth to a daughter Nata, and Nata's daughter is Vinata. [3-14-20]
dasha krodhavashaa raama vijajne api aatmasa.mbhavaah |
mrigiim ca mrigama.ndaam ca hariim bhadramadaam api || 3-14-21
maata.ngiim atha shaarduuliim shvetaam ca surabhiim tathaa |
sarva laksana sa.mpannaam surasaam kadrukaam api || 3-14-22
"Oh, Rama, Krodhavasha gave birth to ten of her self-same daughters namely Mrigi, Mrigamanda, Hari, Bhadramanda, Maatangii, Sharduulii, Shweta, Surabhi, and like that to Surasa, who is embodied with all giftedness, and even to Kadruva. [3-14-21, 22]
apatyam tu mrigaah sarve mrigyaa naravarottama |
riksaah ca mrigama.ndaayaah srimaraah camaraah tathaa || 3-14-23
"Children Mrigi are all of the deer, oh best of the best-men, Rama, and Mrigamnda's progeny is Riksha-s, Bears, a kind of antelope, and like that the Himalayan yak like species.[3-14-23]
tatah tu iraavatiim naama jajne bhadramadaa sutaam |
tasyaah tu airaavatah putro lokanaatho mahaagajah || 3-14-24
"Then Bhadramanda gave birth to the girl named Iravati and her son is elephant the great, Airavata, the protector of world. [3-14-24]
haryaah ca harayo apatyam vaanaraah ca tapasvinah |
golaa.nguulaah ca shaarduulii vyaaghraam ca ajanayat sutaan || 3-14-25
"And Hari's offspring are lions and sagely/mighty monkeys, while Sharduulii gave birth to baboons and tigers. [3-14-25]
maatangyaah tu atha maatangaaapatyam manuja risabha |
dishaagajam tu shveta kaakutstha shvetaa vyajanayat sutam || 3-14-26
"Then Maatangi's children are elephants, oh, best one among men, Rama, and Shweta gave birth to eight elephants that are at eight quarters of world, sustaining the world on their head. [3-14-26]
tato duhitarau raama surabhir dve vi ajaayata |
rohiniim naama bhadram te gandharviim ca yashasviniim || 3-14-27
"Then, oh Rama, Surabhi gave birth to two daughters, one is named as illustrious Rohini, safe you be, and the other is Gandharvi. [3-14-27]
rohini ajanayad gaavo gandharvii vaajinah sutaan |
surasaa ajanayan naagaan raama kadruuh ca pannagaan || 3-124-28
"Rohini gave birth to cows and other livestock, while Surasa gave birth to Naaga-s, viz., many headed serpents, while Kadru gave birth to ordinary serpents. [3-124-28]
manur manusyaan janayat kashyapasya mahaatmanah |
braahmanaan ksatriyaan vaishyaan shuudraam ca manuja.rsabha || 3-14-29
"Oh, the best among men Rama, the wife of great-soul Kashyapa, lady Manu procreated humans, Brahman--s, Kshatriya-s, Vysya-s, and Shudra-s. [3-14-29]
mukhato braahmanaa jaataa urasah ksatriyaah tathaa |
uurubhyaam jajnire vaishyaah padbhyaam shuudraa iti shrutih || 3-14-30
"The Brahman-s emerged from face, the Kshatriya-s from chest, the Vysya-s from two thighs, and the Shudra-s from two feet, thus we hear from the scriptures viz., Veda, i.e., Rig Veda Purusha Shuukta. [3-14-30]
sarvaan punya phalaan vriksaan analaa api vyajaayata |
vinataa ca shukii pautrii kadruuh ca surasaa svasaa || 3-14-31
"All the merited fruit-bearing trees are given birth by Anala, and now I will narrate about Vinata, the daughter's daughter of Shukii, and about Kadru, the sister of Surasa. [3-14-31]
kadruur naaga sahasram tu vijajne dharaniidharan |
dvau putrau vinataayaah tu garudo aruna eva ca || 3-14-32
"Kadru gave birth to a thousand-headed serpent who is the bearer of this earth, and Vinata gave birth to two sons namely Garuda and Aruna. [3-14-32]
tasmaat jaato aham arunaat sampaatih ca mama agrajah |
jataayur iti maam viddhi shyenii putram ari.mdama || 3-14-33
"Oh enemy-destroyer Rama, I took birth from that Aruna, the charioteer of Sun, and my elder brother Sampaati too, hence know me as Jataayu, the son of Shyenii. [3-14-33]
so aham vaasa sahaayah te bhavisyaami yadi icchasi |
idam durgam hi kaantaaram mriga raakshasa sevitam
siitaam ca taata raksisye tvayi yaate salaksmane || 3-14-34
"Such as I am, I can be your helpmate at your residence if only you wish me to... oh, boy, this impassable forest is a beloved one to predators and demons, isn't it... as such I can take care of Seetha if you and Lakshmana go out..." Thus Jataayu said to Rama. [3-14-34]
jataayusam tu pratipuujya raaghavo
mudaa parisvajya ca sannato abhavat |
pitur hi shushraava sakhitvam aatmavaan
jataayusaa sa.mkathitam punah punah || 3-14-35
Raghava revered Jataayu in his turn by gladly hugging and stood by him with his head bent, and that kind-natured Rama is indeed regardful of the friendship of his father with Jataayu that is repeatedly said by Jataayu. [3-14-35]
sa tatra siitaam paridaaya maithiliim
saha eva tena atibalena paksinaa |
jagaama taam pa.ncavatiim salaksmano
ripuun didhaksan shalabhaan iva analah || 3-14-36
He that Rama took the princess from Mithila Seetha, and proceeded to Panchavati along with that very mighty bird and Lakshmana, as though to incinerate enemies, like fire that burns down grasshoppers. [3-14-36]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye aranya kaande caturdashah sargah
Thus, this is the 14th chapter in Aranya Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate