Chapter LXVII: Section LXVII

After Lakshmana had spoken these highly sound and pleasant words, Rama, ever taking to what is sound, accepted them. Thereupon that one, of mighty arms, slaking his flaming ire and reclining himself upon his beautiful bow, addressed Lakshmana, saying, "Do thou ponder over, O brother, where shall we repair, what shall we do and by what means shall we come by Sita?" Whereto Lakshmana replied saying unto the highly aggrieved Rama, "It is proper for thee to search this Janasthana filled with a multitude of Rakshasas and covered with diverse trees and creepers. Here are many strongholds in the midst of mountains, clefts of rocks, many caves and numerous cavities filled with various animals. Many are the abodes here belonging to the Kinnaras and Gandharbas. Do thou, along with me, search all these places. Great men, of thy calibre, do remain unagitated even in the midst of difficulties like unto mountains never shaken by the velocity of the wind." Hearing these words, Rama, enraged, fixing sharp and terrible arrows to his bow, began to range the forest with Lakshmana. Thereupon he beheld, fallen on ground, having his person bathed in blood, the king of birds--Yatayu, resembling a mountain peak, and spake unto Lakshmana, saying "It is clear and beyond all doubt that Vaidehi hath been devoured by this Rakshasa, assuming the shape of a vulture and ranging the forest. This Rakshasa hath been reposing at ease after devouring that one of expansive eyes; I shall kill him with terrible straight-coursing arrows, having flaming points." Fixing sharpened shafts to his bow, Rama, enraged, darted towards the vulture, as if moving the sea-girt earth. Vomitting frothy blood Yatayu, the king of vultures, spoke unto Rama, the son of Dacaratha, saying 'O thou of long life, that goddess, whom thou hast been searching in this vast forest like unto _Oshadhi_, and my life have been carried away by Ravana. I saw her, O Raghava, carried away stealthily by the powerful Ravana, in thy absence as well as that of Lakshmana. Myself Hearing Sita, for her rescue, O Lord, Ravana was thrown down On earth by me in conflict having his car and unbrella shattered. This is his snapped bow and these are his broken shafts. And this is his war-car, O Rama, shattered in fight. This is his charioteer lying On earth being killed by the velocity of my wings. Having sundered my wings with his dagger, who had been exhausted, Ravana taking Sita, rose high up in the welkin. It behoveth thee not to kill me who had been wounded before by the Rakshasa." Hearing from him pleasant words relating to Sita, Rama, leaving aside, instantly, his mighty bow, embraced him, and rolling on earth having lost self-control through grief, began to lament with Lakshmana. Though highly composed by nature, he was dverwhelmed with doubled grief. And beholding Yatayu, sigh again and again and breathing with difficulty in a helpless plight, Rama, highly aggrieved, spake unto Lakshmana saying, "I have lost my kingdom and have been living in this forest. My Sita hath been carried away and this bird hath been killed (on my account)--This misfortune of mine can burn even the very fire. If for assuaging my grief I do enter the mighty ocean, verily shall that misfortune dry up even that lord of rivers. There is none so unfortunate as I, throughout this earth, mobile or immobile, and it is for this bad luck that I have confronted this mighty disaster. This mighty king of vultures is our father's friend and he lieth on earth, killed through the evil turn of my fortune." Uttering these and various other words, Raghava, along with Lakshmana touched his body manifesting his paternal affection. Embracing the king of vultures, bathed in blood, having its wings cut off, Raghava, fell on the ground, exclaiming 'where hath Maithilee gone like unto my life?'