Kishkindha Kaanda
138 - The monkeys' arrival at the seashore; their meeting and conversation with Sampati (Jatayu's brother)
Chaupais
Description
Thus they discoursed among themselves in many ways. Sampati* (Jatayu's elder brother) heard them from his cave in the mountain. When he came out of it and saw a host of monkeys, he said to himself, "God has provided me with a feast: I will devour them all today. I have been starving for many days past and have never had a full meal; today God has supplied me with abundant food all at a time." The monkeys trembled with fear to hear the vulture's words. "Our doom is now sealed, we are sure," they said to themselves. All the monkeys rose when they saw the vulture; while Jambavan felt much perturbed at heart. Angada reflected within himself and said: "There is no one so blessed as Jatayu, who laid down his life in the service of Sri Rama and ascended to the abode of Sri Hari, supremely lucky as he was." When the bird (Sampati) heard these words, which stirred in him a mixed feeling of joy and grief, he drew near to the monkeys, who felt alarmed by his presence. Assuring them of safety he went and enquired them about his younger brother and the monkeys told him the whole story. When Sampati heard of his brother's obsequies (performed by the Lord with His own hands), he glorified the Lord of Raghus in many ways.