Ramayna of Valmiki and Kamban-17. Ravana fights with Jatayu

March 11, 2009

17. Ravana fights with Jatayu

Seetha cried aloud calling Lakshmana and Rama and told Ravana that he was going to be destroyed by Rama for doing such a wicked thing prompted by his bad fortune. Then Seetha in her anguish said that Kaikeyi would have been happy that her wish was fulfilled, meaning that she wanted them to undergo suffering in the forest and it has happened now.

Seetha entreated the trees and the forest deities to tell Rama that Ravana was abducting her.She asked all the animals in forest to do so. Then she saw Jatayu sitting on a tree and cried out to him telling him that Ravana was carrying her off and said that he would not be stopped by Jatayu because he is cruel and mighty but asked him to tell Rama what happened.

Jatayu who was sleeping heard Seetha and saw Ravana carrying her off and first tried to advise Ravana, saying that Rama was equal to Indra and Varuna in valour and Ravana was committing a great sin and if he did not leave Seetha, as Indra killed Vrthra by the thunderbolt, Rama would kill him with his glance itself. Jatayu warned Ravana that he was carrying a poisonous snake tied to the end of his cloth and was winding the noose of death around his neck.

Then Jatayu told Ravana that even though he himself was old and unarmed he will not allow Ravana to carry Seetha as long as he lived . Hearing this Ravana was furious and started fighting with Jatayu and their fight is compared by Valmiki to that of two mountains. Ravana attacked Jatayu with his arrows and Jatayu wounded his body in several places with his beak and claws. Moved by Seetha in tears, Jatayu attacked Ravana fiercely and broke his bow, armour and killed the mules that were drawing his chariot, also destroying his chariot and other paraphernalia. This forced Ravana to descend to the ground and he stood there without releasing his grasp of Seetha. Seeing Jatayu fatigued, Ravana rose up in the air with Seetha but Jatayu also flew up barring his way and said that he and his followers would attain the state of those who drank the poisoned water and he was like the fish caught in the hook and could not escape the wrath of Rama wherever he went. Jatayu said that Ravana was a coward to abduct Seetha when Rama and Lakshmana was not there.

When Ravana would not listen to him Jatayu fell on his back and attacked him with his claws as one would injure the rouge elephant by using the goad. Then Ravana also fought fiercely with Jatayu and finally chopped off his legs and wings with his sword and Jatayu fell down.

Seetha on seeing Jatayu helplessly fallen on the ground, ran towards him and embraced him and cried. She told him that he would live till he saw Rama and informed the news of her abduction. Thus Jatayu was embraced by Seetha even before Rama did so and hence graced by her to live till Rama came. This was the indication that Jatayu was going to be liberated from embodiment as he was blessed by the divine mother, who is the purushkarabhootha, one who recommends the case of the devotees to the Lord.

Seetha then seeing Ravana coming near her clung to a tree but Ravana pulled her away. Valmiki says that seeing that there was no rescue for Seetha from Ravana the whole nature changed and all the worlds became covered with darkness and the wind did not blow and the sun lost his lustre. Seeing her Brahma said to himself that the deed was accomplished. 'krtham kaaryam ithi Sreemaan vyaajahaara pithaamahaH.' The sages seeing Seetha pulled by Ravana, became both glad and sorrowful at the same time, glad that Ravana was nearing his death and sad to see the plight of Seetha.

Then Ravana rose in the sky carrying Seetha and Valmiki, the poet describes the scene in detail.