Rama Counsels the Dying Jatayu

They found Jatayu lying in a pool of his own blood, great wings torn, breath coming in labored gasps. The noble vulture who had fought Ravana to save Sita had paid for his courage with his life.

Rama ran to him, cradling the massive bird's head. "Jatayu! What has happened? Who did this to you?"

The vulture king's eyes focused with effort. "Rama... son of my friend Dasharatha... I tried... I tried to save her..."

"Save whom? Jatayu, who are you speaking of?"

"Sita... the demon king Ravana... in a flying chariot... she was crying your name..." Each word cost him enormous effort.

Rama's face went pale. "Ravana took Sita? You saw this?"

"I fought him, Rama. Old as I am, I fought. I tore at his chariot, I wounded him... but he was too strong. He cut my wings... I fell... but I heard her calling for you... toward the south he flew..."

Tears streamed down Rama's face. "You fought for my wife. You, who owed us nothing..."

"I owed your father friendship. I owed dharma my service. How could I watch evil prevail and do nothing?" Jatayu coughed, blood staining his beak. "But I failed, Rama. I could not save her. Forgive me..."

Rama held him closer. "Failed? Jatayu, you did what many would not dare. You stood against a demon king when you could have looked away. You fought when fighting meant death. This is not failure - this is the highest courage."

"But she is still gone..."

"And because of you, I know who took her. I know which direction. Your sacrifice gives me the path to follow. Jatayu, you have given me hope when hope was dying."

The vulture's breathing grew shallower. "I can feel death approaching, Rama. I am not afraid. But I worried... I worried I would die without seeing you. Without telling you..."

"You have told me everything I need. And I swear to you, Jatayu, I will rescue Sita. I will destroy Ravana. Your death will not be in vain."

"Then I die at peace." Jatayu managed what might have been a smile. "Your father was my friend. Now I go to join him. Tell him... tell him his son is everything a father could hope for."

"I will tell him, noble one. And I will tell all who come after that Jatayu, king of vultures, died as the greatest of warriors die - fighting for what was right, protecting the innocent, giving everything without reservation."

Jatayu's eyes closed. His breath stilled. Rama held him for a long moment, then gently laid him down.

"Lakshmana, help me build a funeral pyre. This noble soul deserves the rites of a king. He fought as a kshatriya, and he will be honored as one."

As the flames rose, Rama stood in silence, grief for Sita mixing with grief for this unexpected hero who had given his life for a friend's son. In death, Jatayu had pointed the way to Sita. In life, he had shown what true courage meant.