Page:The Rámáyana of Tulsi Dás.djvu/444

382 Of his own free will the Lord has manifested himself on behalf of gods, Bráhmans, cows and Earth, and remains in bodily form among his worshippers,having abandoned all the joys of heaven."

He exhorted him in this wise at great length, and Sampáti from his cave in the mountain heard him. When he came out and saw the multitude of monkeys, he cried: "God has provided me with a feast. I will eat them all up at once; I am dying for, want of a meal these many days past. I have never yet had a good bellyfull, but to-day God has supplied me for once and all." The monkeys trembled to hear the vulture's words, 'we were right in saying to-day we must die.' At the sight of him they all rose up, and Jámbaván was mightily disturbed at heart; but Angad, after thinking to himself, exclaimed: "Glory to Jatáyu, there is none like him, who gave up his life in Ráma's service and, blessed beyond measure, has been translated to Hari's sphere in heaven." When the bird heard these words of mingled joy and sadness, he drew near to the monkeys in alarm and after assuring them of safety began to question them. They told him the whole history. When Sampáti heard of his brother's doings, he gave great glory to Raghupati.

"Take me to the sea-shore and make him an offering of sesamum seeds; with the help of my instructions you shall recover her whom you seek."

When he had completed the funeral rites for. his brother on the seashore, he told them his own history. "Hearken, monkey chiefs. We two brothers in our first youth mounted into the heaven, winging our way towards the sun. He could not endure its splendour and turned back, but I in my pride went closer. My wings were scorched by the excessive heat, and I fell to the earth uttering fearful cries. A saint, by name Chandrama, was moved with compassion when he saw me, and instructed me in all kinds of knowledge and rid me of my inveterate pride. "In the Treta age God will take the form of a man, and his spouse will be carried off by the king of the demons. The Lord will send out spies to search for her, and if you join them you will be purified. Your wings will sprout again, fear not, when you have found them Síta." The