Hari Om.
Let us begin the sixtieth sarga of the kishkindhA kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
The vAnaras were absolutely delighted to know about the whereabouts of sItA and also relieved that their life was saved. sampAti was their saviour and by rAma’s grace not only appeared when they were about to lay down their lives but also had a change of heart upon hearing the story of rAma and especially how jaTAyu laid down his life for rAma. The old vulture was sad that he was in no position to avenge the felling of his brother and so was determined to help the mission by virtue of his words and wisdom. That was just the boost the vAnaras needed and they were fired up discarding despondency. They inquired from sampAti about how he knew about the abduction of sItA and he related how his son supArSwa had a close encounter with rAvaNa as he flew across. The vulture king was helped by the vAnaras to offer ablutions for his brother jaTAyu at the sea. Onwards…
The vAnaras having helped the great vulture to offer obsequies to his deceased brother, take a purificatory bath in the sea then settled him on the mountain and sat down surrounding him. Prince angada sat close to him. The vulture having won the confidence of the vAnaras then spoke in joy –
“O vAnaras, listen in silence and concentration to the true saga of how I know maithilI.
कृत्वा निश्शब्दमेकाग्रा श्श्रुण्वन्तु हरयो मम।
तत्वं सङ्कीर्तयिष्यामि यथा जानामि मैथिलीम्।।4.60.3।।
In the yore, having fallen down on the top of the hills of the vindhyas, with my wings burnt under the scorching heat of the sun, I regained my senses after six nights. I understood nothing of my surroundings or whereabouts. Gradually, looking at the sea, the mountain range facing it, the forests there, I gained the memory of the place and ascertained that it was the vindhya.
There was a hermitage near by, of the celebrated sage by name niSAchara who was a great embodiment of penance.
आसीच्चात्राश्रमं पुण्यं सुरैरपि सुपूजितम्।
ऋषिर्निशाकरो नाम यस्मिन्नुग्रतपाभवत्।।4.60.8।।
The sage is no more now, having attained the heavens eight thousand years ago while I continue to live here. I and jaTAyu had approached him several times before. On this particular occasion, with my wings burnt and with no ability to fly, I dragged myself gradually to the hermitage of the sage with a deep desire to meet him.
तमृषिं द्रष्टुकामोऽस्मि दुःखेनाभ्यागतो भृशम्।
जटायुषा मया चैव बहुशोऽभिगतो हि सः।।4.60.11।।
In the surroundings of his hermitage, there existed no tree that didn’t bear fruit, the gentle breeze carried the fragrance of the flowers that were in full bloom all around. having reached the sylvan hermitage, I remained there desirous of meeting the great sage niSAkara. Soon I beheld the great sage, coming after completing his ablutions, in wet clothes, his personality glowing and effulgent. The sage was followed by the tigers, lions, bears, elephants, deer, snakes and other wild animals just like lord brahma is followed by all beings. As the sage approached the hermitage, the animals withdrew just like the convoy of the king recedes as he reaches the palace.
ततः प्राप्तमृषिं ज्ञात्वा तानि सत्त्वानि वै ययुः।
प्रविष्टे राजनि यथा सर्वं सामात्यकं बलम्।।4.60.16।।
The sage cast a loving glance at me and entered his hermitage. Soon he came out again and came to me. He spoke – ‘O gentle one, looking at your body devoid of hair, I can understand that your wings are burnt and that you have sustained many injuries in your body. I remember the twin vultures that had sought my blessings before, jaTAyu and sampAti. Both were capable of changing forms at will and I know that you are sampAti and jaTAyu is your brother.
ज्येष्ठो हि त्वं तु सम्पाते जटायुरनुजस्तव।
मानुषं रूपमास्थाय गृह्णीतां चरणौ मम।।4.60.20।।
What happened you? What disease has been tormenting you. How did you lose your wings? You may relate all these to me as a matter of fact'”.
Here we conclude the sixtieth sarga of the kishkindhA kAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma.
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Previous: 4.59. An eyewitness account
rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 
