Ram's Grief, Jatayu's Last Words and Kabandha

On his way back Ram saw ill omens everywhere. A jackal howled behind him. Then he saw Lakshmana coming towards him, alone. Ram's mouth went dry. "Lakshmana, why have you left Sita? My left eye is throbbing. She will not be alive."

With his head bowed Lakshmana told him everything, including Sita's harsh words. Ram said, "You should not have come away because of words a woman spoke in anger." The two ran to the hermitage.

The empty hut

The hut was like a pond without lotuses in winter. The seats lay scattered and the kusha grass was blowing about. Ram called out. Then he thought she was hiding to tease him. Then he thought she had gone for flowers, or to the river. He ran to the Godavari, came back, ran again.

Then he began to ask the trees. "Kadamba, have you seen my beloved? Ashoka, you who take away sorrow, tell me where she is. Deer, she had eyes like yours; did you see her?" The deer rose, looked up at the sky, and walked off facing south. Lakshmana said, "Brother, they are showing us the direction."

To the south they found flowers fallen on the ground. Ram knew them. "I put these in her hair myself this morning." Further on lay a shattered chariot, a broken bow, dead mules, huge footprints and drops of blood.

Ram's grief turned to rage. His eyes reddened. "The gods looked on in silence! If they do not return my Sita today, I will fill the sky with my arrows, dry up the sea and destroy the three worlds." He raised his bow.

Lakshmana folded his hands. "Brother, you have always wished everyone well. Do not punish the whole world for the crime of one. On whom does sorrow not fall? Even the sun and moon are eclipsed. If you lose your steadiness, what is an ordinary man to do? We will search. If we do not find her, then do as you please." Ram lowered the bow.

Jatayu

A little further on lay a huge bird covered in blood. Ram drew his bow. "This is what has eaten Sita." Then a faint voice came: "Child, the lady you seek in this forest like a healing herb, and my life with her, Ravana has taken. I broke his chariot and killed his charioteer. I was tired, and he cut off my wings. He took her towards the south."

Ram threw down his bow and held Jatayu. "Lakshmana, look at my ill fortune. My kingdom is gone, my father is gone, Sita is gone, and now this bird who gave his life for me is going too." Jatayu tried to say more: "He is the son of Vishrava, the brother of Kubera..." and his head fell to one side.

Ram said, "Lakshmana, bring wood. He is as worthy of my reverence as King Dasharatha." He built the pyre himself, lit it himself, went down to the Godavari and offered water, and said, "King of vultures, may you reach the state that comes to those who perform sacrifices and give gifts of land." The son who had not been able to perform his father's rites performed them for a bird.

Kabandha

The brothers went on southward. In a dense forest two enormous arms suddenly seized them. Before them was a strange rakshasa: no head, no neck, a mouth in his belly, one eye in his chest, and arms each a yojana long. He was Kabandha.

For a moment Lakshmana lost heart. Ram said, "His strength is in his arms." Each cut off one arm with his sword. Kabandha fell and asked, "Who are you?" Hearing their names, he was glad. "A curse made me like this, and I was told that when Ram cut off my arms I would be freed. Burn my body, and then I will tell you your way."

From the pyre rose a shining being. He said, "Ram, a man in trouble needs a friend, and the one who becomes a friend is the one who is in trouble himself. On Mount Rishyamuka, near Lake Pampa, lives a vanara named Sugriva. His brother has driven him from his kingdom. Make friendship with him before a fire. He will find your Sita. On the way is the ashram of the sage Matanga. An ascetic woman named Shabari is waiting for you there."

Saying this, he rose into the sky. For the first time in many days a ray of hope woke in Ram's mind.