Summary
Sampaati details Sage Nishaakara as to how his wings were burnt, when he and his brother Jataayu were flying competitively near at the sun. He says that he wanted to commit suicide, as his two wings, eagle kingdom, valor and even brother, are lost.
Chapter [Sarga] 61 in Detail
tatah tat daarunam karma duskaram saahasaat kritam |
aacacakse muneh sarvam suurya anugamanam tathaa || 4-61-1
"Then I have informed the Sage Nishaakara all about that impossible and impracticable deed done indiscreetly by me and Jataayu and our following the Sun in red heat, as well..." Thus Sampaati continued his legend. [4-61-1]
bhagavan vrana yuktatvaat lajjayaa ca akula indriyah |
parishraanto na shaknomi vacanam paribhaasitum || 4-61-2
"Oh, godly sage, scorching sun has ulcerated me, shame perturbed my senses for not protecting Jataayu, further I am haggard to descend this mountain to come to you, such I am I am incapable to speak on, elaborately... [4-61-2]
aham caiva jataayuh ca sa.ngharsaat darpa mohitau |
aakaasham patitau duuraat jijnaasantau paraakramam || 4-61-3
"Fascinated by our arrogance and inquisitive of our relative triumphs, myself and Jataayu competitively flew up far-away on the sky... [4-61-3]
kailaasa shikhare baddhvaa muniinaam agratah panam |
ravih syaat anuyaatavyo yaavat astam mahaagirim || 4-61-4
"Before the sages on the peak of Mt. Kailash we have staked a stake that we two shall follow the Sun till he reaches the great westerly mountain, namely Mt. Dusk... [4-61-4]
api aavaam yugapat praaptau apashyaava mahii tale |
ratha cakra pramaanaani nagaraani prithak prithak || 4-61-5
"We reached the sky in a trice to a height wherefrom we could see each of the townships on the surface of earth, separately and singly, in the size of a chariot's wheel... [4-61-5]
kvacit vaaditra ghosah ca kvacit bhuusana nihsvanah |
gaayantiih sma a.nganaa bahviih pashyaavo rakta vaasasah || 4-61-6
"We have seen and heard instrumental music somewhere, and somewhere else tinkling of jewelry, and elsewhere singing of many ladies dressed in red... [4-61-6]
tuurnam utpatya ca aakaasham aaditya patham aasthitau |
aavaam aalokayaavah tat vanam shaadvala sa.msthitam || 4-61-7
"On our quick rising to the sky and abiding in solar path we have observed that a forest is positioned just as a patch of pasture on earth... [4-61-7]
upalaih iva sa.mchannaa drishyate bhuuh shila uccayaih |
aapagaabhih ca sa.mviitaa suutraih iva vasu.ndharaa || 4-61-8
"From there the earth covered with pebble like mountain heights appeared shingly, and interwoven with yarn like rivers the surface of the earth is thready... [4-61-8]
himavaan caiva vindhyah ca meruh ca sumahaan girih |
bhuu tale sa.mprakaashante naagaa iva jala aashaye || 4-61-9
"Himalayas, even Mt. Vindhya, and even the very high mountain Mt. Meru, shone forth like elephants in lakes... [4-61-9]
tiivrah svedah ca khedah ca bhayam ca aasiit tadaa avayoh |
samaavishata mohah ca tato muurcchaa ca daarunaa || 4-61-10
"Then there bechanced an abnormal sweating, tiredness and fear, and then stupor invading both of us, we two underwent a severe vertigo... [4-61-10]
na ca dik jnaayate yaamyaa na aagneyii na ca vaarunii |
yuga ante niyato loko hato dagdha iva agninaa || 4-61-11
"We are not in the know of southern direction which belongs to Yama, the Terminator, nor of south-east which belongs to Fire-god, also not of west which belongs to Rain-god... and the world appeared as though burnt down by the fire at the end of era and destructed of its routine... [4-61-11]
manah ca me hatam bhuuyah cakshuh praapya tu sa.mshrayam |
yatnena mahataa hi asmin manah sa.ndhaaya cakshusii || 4-61-12
yatnena mahataa bhuuyo bhaaskarah pratilokitah |
tulyah prithvii pramaanena bhaaskarah pratibhaati nau || 4-61-13
"Though my brainpower is deranged I again tried laboriously just depending on my sight. I again tried strenuously concentrating my brainpower and sight on Sun and I have directly seen the Sun. Then the Sun appeared in a size equal to the earth. [4-61-12, 13]
jataayuh maam anaapricchya nipapaata mahiim tatah |
tam dristvaa tuurnam aakaashaat aatmaanam muktavaan aham || 4-61-14
"Without informing me Jataayu started to trip over the earth, and then on seeing him I too let myself loose from the sky... [4-61-14]
paksabhyaam ca mayaa gupto jataayuh na pradahyata |
pramaadaat tatra nirdagdhah patan vaayu pathaat aham || 4-61-15
"I have hidden Jataayu in sky with both my wings from the scorching Sun... hence, he is not burn that much... but I am completely burnt when falling from the sky... [4-61-15]
aashanke tam nipatitam janasthaane jataayusam |
aham tu patito vindhye dagdha pakso jadii kritah || 4-61-16
"I supposed that Jataayu as has fallen in Janasthaana, but I have fallen on Mt. Vindhya, as a wing-burnt and insensate eagle... [4-61-16]
raajyaat hiino bhraatraa ca paksaabhyaam vikramena ca |
sarvathaa martum eva icchan patisye shikharaat gireh || 4-61-17
"As one who is divested of his kingdom, his brother, both of his wings, and his own valance too, such as I was I wished to fall from the mountaintop to die, in any way... [4-61-17]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye kiskindha kaande eka sastitamah sargah
Thus, this is the 61st chapter in Kishkindha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate