Sampati Comes Seeking Food and Hears the Name of His Brother Jatayu
Kishkindha Kanda, Chaupai 27
Doha 27 · Movement 1 of 2
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The monkeys' words enter a mountain cave and reach Sampati. The great vulture emerges, sees the assembled bodies, and believes the Lord of the world has at last sent him food. Starved for many days and unable to fill his belly, he intends to devour them all in one providential feast.
Fear passes through the monkeys. Jambavan is deeply troubled, but Angada speaks of another vulture. None was blessed like Jatayu, who gave his body for Rama's work and entered Hari's city. The name of the dead brother changes the hunger before them.
Sampati draws near with joy and grief mingled in his voice. He grants the monkeys fearlessness and asks for their account. They tell everything. Hearing the deed of Jatayu, Sampati praises Raghupati's glory in many ways. A meeting that opened with threatened death becomes a brother's first knowledge of a sacred death.
Sampati came to consume the monkeys, but the name Jatayu consumes his hunger first.
Read the passage from the Manas
एहि बिधि कथा कहहि बहु भाँती गिरि कंदराँ सुनी संपाती।। बाहेर होइ देखि बहु कीसा। मोहि अहार दीन्ह जगदीसा।। आजु सबहि कहँ भच्छन करऊँ। दिन बहु चले अहार बिनु मरऊँ।। कबहुँ न मिल भरि उदर अहारा। आजु दीन्ह बिधि एकहिं बारा।। डरपे गीध बचन सुनि काना। अब भा मरन सत्य हम जाना।। कपि सब उठे गीध कहँ देखी। जामवंत मन सोच बिसेषी।। कह अंगद बिचारि मन माहीं। धन्य जटायू सम कोउ नाहीं।। राम काज कारन तनु त्यागी । हरि पुर गयउ परम बड़ भागी।। सुनि खग हरष सोक जुत बानी । आवा निकट कपिन्ह भय मानी।। तिन्हहि अभय करि पूछेसि जाई। कथा सकल तिन्ह ताहि सुनाई।। सुनि संपाति बंधु कै करनी। रघुपति महिमा बधुबिधि बरनी।।
In this manner, as the monkeys spoke in many ways, Sampati heard their stories from within a mountain cave. Coming outside and seeing many monkeys, he thought, 'The Lord of the world has provided me food.' 'Today I shall devour them all, for many days have passed without food and I am wasting away.' 'Never before have I filled my belly. But today Providence has given everything at once.' The monkeys trembled upon hearing the vulture's words, knowing that death was now truly upon them. All the monkeys rose in alarm upon seeing the great vulture. Jambavan's heart was especially troubled. Angada reflected within his mind and said, 'Blessed was Jatayu; there is none to equal him.' 'He gave up his body for Rama's cause and went to the Lord's own abode, most fortunate of souls.' Hearing these words of mingled joy and grief, the bird drew near. The monkeys regarded him with fear. Giving them assurance of safety, Sampati inquired of them, and they told him the entire tale. Hearing of his brother Jatayu's noble deeds, Sampati praised the glory of Shri Raghupati in many ways.