Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— तस्या रुदितमाकर्ण्य दीनमार्तस्वरान्वितम्। जटायुर्नाम पक्षीन्द्र आययौ बलवीर्यवान्॥१॥
Brahmā said: Hearing her piteous weeping, filled with the voice of anguish, the powerful and valiant king of birds named Jatāyu came.
Passage 2
पक्षतिद्वयशब्देन दिशो मुखरयन् भृशम्। गतिवेगोद्भवैर्वातैः कम्पयन् वनभूरुहान्॥२॥
The sound of his two wings made the directions resound, while winds born from the speed of his flight violently shook the forest trees.
Passage 3
सुहृद्दशरथस्यासौ तस्य पुत्रवधूमिमाम्। हरन्तं राक्षसं दुष्टं रुरोध पथिवेगतः॥३॥
He was Daśaratha's friend. With the speed of his flight he blocked the path of the wicked rākṣasa who was carrying away his friend's daughter-in-law.
Passage 4
हे राक्षसाधमखल पापीयस्तीक्ष्णमानस। हृत्वा मम सुहृत्पुत्रवधूं क्व खल गच्छसि॥४॥
“O vile and wicked rākṣasa, sinful and cruel-minded! Where are you going after abducting the wife of my friend's son?
Passage 5
मुञ्च मुञ्चाबलामेनां परस्य ललनां सतीम्। इत्युक्त्वा तीक्ष्णया चञ्च्वा भृशं विव्याध राक्षसम्॥५॥
“Release her, release this defenseless and faithful wife of another!” Saying this, he struck the rākṣasa fiercely with his sharp beak.
Passage 6
हतश्चञ्चुप्रहारेण वज्रेणेव स राक्षसः। भृशमुद्विविजे तं च प्रजहार स्वपाणिना॥६॥
Struck by the beak as though by a thunderbolt, the rākṣasa recoiled violently and hit Jatāyu with his hand.
Passage 7
पुरः पश्चाच्च तं पक्षी वामदक्षिणपार्श्वयोः। प्रजहार जवाविष्टश्चञ्च्वा वज्रकठोरया॥७॥
Filled with speed, the bird attacked him from the front and rear and on his left and right sides with a beak as hard as a thunderbolt.
Passage 8
स जानकीं वहन्नंसे रावणस्तेन पक्षिणा। भृशं व्याकुलितश्चञ्चुचरणाग्रप्रहारिणा॥८॥
As Rāvaṇa carried Jānakī upon his shoulder, the bird's blows with beak and claw-tips threw him into great distress.
Passage 9
तस्याङ्गेभ्योऽक्षरद्भूरि रुधिरं तस्य पक्षिणः। बलीयसः स्फुरञ्चञ्चुचरणाग्रप्रहारजम्॥९॥
Abundant blood flowed from Rāvaṇa's limbs, produced by the forceful strokes of that mighty bird's darting beak and claws.
Passage 10
ततश्चुकोप बलवान् राक्षसेन्द्रो दुराशयः। मुष्टिभिः प्रजहारैनं वर्षीयांसं विहंगमम्॥१०॥
Then the powerful, evil-hearted lord of the rākṣasas grew furious and struck the aged bird with his fists. The Battle in the Sky
Passage 11
स भृशं ताड्यमानोऽपि मुष्टिभिर्बलिना खगः। यावदात्मबलं तेन युयुधे रक्षसा पथि॥११॥
Though struck repeatedly by the powerful foe's fists, the bird fought the rākṣasa in the sky-road with all the strength he possessed.
Passage 12
कदाचित्तस्य नेत्रेषु कदाचित्कर्णसन्धिषु। कदाचित्कक्षयोश्चापि तुतुदे चञ्चुपातनैः॥१२॥
With descending strokes of his beak, he pierced now Rāvaṇa's eyes, now the joints of his ears, and now his two armpits.
Passage 13
पक्षाभ्यां वज्रतीक्ष्णाभ्यां विव्यथे वामदक्षयोः। तस्योरसि पुनः पद्भ्यां प्रजहार विहंगमः॥१३॥
With his two wings, sharp as thunderbolts, he wounded Rāvaṇa's left and right sides; then the bird struck his chest with both feet.
Passage 14
यत्र यत्रैव तुदति पक्षी नखरशस्त्रकैः। ततस्ततोऽक्षरत्तस्य रुधिरं क्षतसम्भवम्॥१४॥
Wherever the bird pierced him with the weapons of his claws, blood flowed from the wounds.
Passage 15
रक्षोमुष्टिचपेटाभिरपध्वस्तकलेवरः। मुमूर्च्छ बलवान् पक्षी युयुधे च समुत्थितः॥१५॥
His body battered by the rākṣasa's fists and slaps, the mighty bird lost consciousness; rising again, he resumed the fight.
Passage 16
तं पातयित्वा दशकन्धरोऽग्रे यावत्प्रयातः कतिचित्पदानि। तावत्समुत्थाय स आत्तचेतनो युद्धं चकारातिबलेन रक्षसा॥१६॥
The ten-headed one felled him and advanced a few steps. By then Jatāyu had risen and recovered awareness, and he fought the immensely powerful rākṣasa again.
Passage 17
मुष्टिभिश्च चपेटाभिः स तेन बलशालिना। विलूनपक्षतिश्चक्रे हतसर्वबलः खगः॥१७॥
With fists and slaps, the powerful Rāvaṇa mangled the bird's wings and destroyed all his strength. Jatāyu Falls but Awaits Rāma
Passage 18
अथासौ न्यपतद्भूमौ क्षीणाशेषबलः खगः। कण्ठागतातुरप्राणो युद्धं कृत्वा बलीयसा॥१८॥
Having fought the stronger foe, the bird fell to the ground with all his strength exhausted and his anguished life-breath lodged in his throat.
Passage 19
चक्रे दाशरथीं मैत्रीं स गृध्रः कृतनिष्कृतिम्। तत्पुत्रजायावैरेण युद्ध्वा घोरेण रक्षसा॥१९॥
By fighting the terrible rākṣasa over the wife of Daśaratha's son, the vulture discharged the obligation of his friendship with Daśaratha.
Passage 20
यावदायास्यति रामः सूर्यवंशविभूषणः। तावद्रक्षति प्राणान् स्वान् जटायुर्युधि निहतः॥२०॥
Struck down in battle, Jatāyu preserved his life until Rāma, ornament of the solar dynasty, would arrive.
Passage 21
इत्थं स तं बलिनं पातयित्वा परिक्षरद्रुधिरौघेन लिप्तः। चचाल रक्षोऽधिपतिः पुरस्तादंसे वहन् राघवधर्मपत्नीम्॥२१॥
Thus, having felled the mighty bird, the lord of the rākṣasas—covered in streams of flowing blood—continued onward, carrying Rāghava's lawful wife upon his shoulder.