Jatayu's Last Words

"Someone has kidnapped Sita!" Rama cried out. "Or some demon has killed and eaten her! Or she has hidden somewhere in the forest out of fear. But it may be that she has just gone to pick vegetables and fruits. Or maybe she has gone to the lake or river to pick lotuses."

Rama searched all the nearby places but couldn't find his dear wife anywhere in the forest. He was crying like a deranged person, and his eyes reddened. He ran helter-skelter in search of Sita. Finally, Rama and Lakshmana came to the place where the giant vulture Jatayu was lying on the ground, soaked in blood.

"The Demon King Ravana has kidnapped Sita," Jatayu told Rama. "He's the one who injured me. When I saw Sita being kidnapped, I tried to save her. I fought with Ravana and damaged his plane, but he cut off my wings with his sword. I became helpless and fell to the ground while Ravana took Sita in his plane along the skyway. O Rama, Don't worry about Sita. You will soon kill that demon and spend the rest of your life happily with her."

Jatayu then took his last breath. Rama and Lakshmana performed his last rites with the utmost respect.

After this, the two brothers headed south to search for Sita. While searching for her, they heard a deafening noise that seemed to tear through the jungle. The trees looked like a violent storm had come, and the loud noise filled the sky. 

Rama and Lakshmana became alert and tried to discover the source of the noise, only to find a giant demon that looked like a headless torso. His mouth was on his stomach, and he was covered with short, pointy hair. His shape was like a mountain and dark as a cloud. His eyes were big and yellow, and his eyelashes were blood-red. The demon had long arms, with which he caught Rama and Lakshmana.