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Sarg 67-Meeting With Jataayu

Then Raam did understand a bit, although this advice came from His younger brother, and [He took off His bow and arrow] and said to Lakshman - "Now how we should search for Seetaa? Where we should search for Seetaa? You think now clearly." Lakshman said - "First you search for Seetaa in this Jansthaan because here are many hidden places, dense forests, and caves where Raakshas live secretly. So let us go and search for Her there. These caverns are the mansions for Kinnar and palaces for Gandharv also. So you should search these places along with me."

So both went forward - Raam still carrying His bow and arrow in His hands. As they went forward a bit they saw mountain-like Jataayu lying wounded and bleeding. Raam said - 'He must have eaten my Seetaa, I am certain. These Raakshas live in forest in the guise of Saadhu. He is sitting here in the form of vulture after eating my Seetaa. He will be killed by me today." Saying thus Raam aimed His bow and arrow at the bird and went forward.

At the same time that vulture spitted some blood and said to Raam - "Hey Raam, Seetaa you are searching for, Raavan has taken Her away along with my life. This is his broken bow and arrow, broken armor and chariot which I shattered in combat. I killed his Saarathee with my wings, but I was tired sohe cut my wings with his sword and took away Seetaa by skyway. I am already killed by that Raakshas so you don't kill me."

Hearing this Raam threw His bow and arrow on the ground and embraced Jataayu and listened to Seetaa's story. Both Raam and Lakshman wept over Jataayu and his story. Their anguish got double seeing Jataayu's condition.

Raam said to Lakshman - "How unfortunate I am that I have lost my kingdom, misplaced in forest, my father died, my wife has been abducted, and now this vulture is also killed only because of me. If I wish to swim in this sea, I am sure that because of my misfortune it will also dry. The king of vulture is my father's friend who is here dead on the ground because of me." Saying Raam patted Jataayu with son-like affection and regard. "Where are you my Seetaa?" And Raam also fell on the ground because of grief.

Sarg 68-Raam Performs Last Rites of Jataayu

Seeing Jataayu in such condition, Raam fell on the ground and said to Lakshman - "See Lakshman, This king of vultures fought with Raavan because of me and that is why he was killed by that Raakshas. He lost his life because of me. He has only a few breaths left. His body is feeble, his voice is getting dull." Then He said to Jataayu - "If you can speak, please tell me the reason of your killing and Seetaa's whereabouts. Why was Seetaa abducted? I did not do anything bad to him. What Seetaa told you at that time? Where is his stronghold? How does he look like? What does he do?"

Seeing Raam with his up-rolling eyes, Jataayu wailed like an orphan and said in his broken voice - "Raavan has abducted Seetaa through his Maayaa, like creating an immense windstorm and cloud-cover. When I got tired then he cut my wings and he took Seetaa towards South. Raam, I am about to die now. In whatever Muhoort Raavan has abducted Seetaa, named Vindaa, it shows that whose thing is lost, he will find it certainly very quickly. Raavan did not pay attention to this "Vindaa" named Muhoort, that is why you don't be so sad for Her. You will certainly get Her. After stealing your Jaanakee Raavan will be short-lived. Within no time you will find your Jaanakee, so don't so sad for Her." A gush of blood flowed from his mouth but he still managed to speak "Literally he is the son of Muni Vishravaa and brother of Kuber." And the king of vulture died after saying this. [According to Skand Puraan Seetaa blessed Jataayu to remain alive until Raam comes to him.]

Just before the eyes of Raam who was repeatedly saying, "tell me more" Jataayu's soul left his body. His head and feet flopped down on the ground and his body collapsed. Raam said to Lakshman - "He who fearlessly lived in Dandak Forest, a habitat of Raakashas, for years together, today is dead because of me. It is impossible to overpower Time indeed. He, being a vulture, who ran to help Seetaa is killed by Raavan because of me.

As our father is respectable to us, the king of vulture is also respectable to us in the same way. Lakshman, You get the wood and I prepare the fire. I myself will perform his last rites properly." Raam blessed Jataayu - "Whatever Gati is got by the people who do Jap, Tap, charity, you get the same Gati and you go to Brahm Lok." Thus Raam kept his body on the pyre and performed his last rites as He would have performed for His own relative.

Then Raam went in the forest, killed a deer, spread grass and kept that meat on the green grass and offered it to the bird. Whatever Mantra are spoken by Braahman to send a dead to Swarg, Raam spoke all those Mantra to send Jataayu to Swarg. Then they went to the bank of Godaavaree, took bath and offered Jalaanjali (water) to Jataayu. Then they set forth in search for Seetaa towards South.

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