Jatayu Rises in Hari's Four-Armed Form and Begins His Praise
Aranya Kanda, Chaupai 30
Doha 32 · Movement 1 of 3
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Jatayu releases the wounded body that lies beneath Rama's hand. The torn wings, exhausted breath, and marks of Ravana's sword belong to the form he leaves upon the forest floor. From that relinquishment a divine body appears.
He bears the form of Hari, dark and radiant, with four vast arms. Many ornaments shine upon him, and incomparable yellow garments fall around the transformed figure. The flesh-eating bird whom the world might call low now stands clothed in the splendor of the Lord's own likeness.
Jatayu turns toward Rama and begins to praise him. Tears fill his eyes, but they no longer rise from the pain of battle. Before leaving for Hari's abode, he beholds the one for whom he fought and gives voice to the knowledge opened by grace.
Severed wings lie below while four radiant arms rise to offer praise.
Read the passage from the Manas
गीध देह तजि धरि हरि रुपा। भूषन बहु पट पीत अनूपा।। स्याम गात बिसाल भुज चारी। अस्तुति करत नयन भरि बारी।।
The vulture shed his earthly body and assumed the divine rupa of Hari, adorned with countless ornaments and incomparably beautiful pita-vastra. With a shyama complexion and four mighty arms, he offered stuti with eyes brimming with tears of bhakti.