Chapter 3.3 - The story of Sampati (Bird characters, part 3)

The main monkey army was sent into the south to look for Sita. This army included great warriors like Angada, Hanuman and Jambavan. They made their search but no information was forthcoming. If they returned with no positive result, they knew they would be killed by Sugrivan. They preferred to lie down on the shore of the ocean in beds of grass to going back and getting killed. They were lying idle there when from a mountain cave came Sampati, an old bird quite famished, having lost all his wings and feathers and utterly exhausted. He came out from the cave crawling pathetically. When he saw the monkeys lying there helplessly, the old Sampati was happy. He knew for some time he will not have to worry about food. With that hope he came out of the hill. As he was relishing the look of the monkeys, his possible food, he listened to a talk between Angada and others. He was interested in the conversation and so he came near the monkeys. Their meeting proved beneficial to the monkeys as well as Sampati. This is in short the story of Sampati.

Sampati was the brother of Jatayu. He had a long life and he had done many heroic things when he was younger and stronger. He had many adventures to his credit and he came out of the cave in the Vindhya Mountains.

He felt happy at the monkeys he saw and he said to himself.

“I had heard that the results of man’s deeds will continue to follow him in his later lives. Today I know what I had heard was true. After a long time, the food destined for me has come to my feet.”

Although Sampati talked very softly Angada heard what he said. He was afraid and he told Hanuman:

“Look, our ‘yeman’ has come here. From now on we don’t have to worry about Rama’s problems or Sugrivan’s orders. Sita will not be found. Only one thing will happen. We all are going to be eaten by that cruel bird. What all good things Jatayu, that noble bird, did for Sita! We all heard how he died in his efforts to save Sita. Likewise, we like all trees and creepers, birds and animals have come to suffer anything or do anything for the cause of Rama. Although we tried so hard, nothing positive has come out. Whatever be the case our fate is death, here or there. How fortunate Jatayu is! He had the good fortune to understand the problem of Rama and die in the hands of Rama.”

Angada was talking to Hanuman like this. The intelligent vulture king Sampati overheard it.

Then he thought of many things and had many emotions.

“Who are these monkeys? They are not mere monkeys. They are talking about my brother Jatayuas if they knew him and about his death. What happened to him? Did he actually die? It has been a long time since I met him. I should talk with these monkeys and find out more details about my brother.”

tadiccheyamaham shrotum vinasham vanararshabhah bhraturjatayu shastasya janasthananivasinah

“How did my brother become the friend of Dasarathan? What happened to Sri Rama? What did my brother do? What happened to him? Who are you all? You are talking very highly of my brother. In the heat of the sun my wings are all burnt up. On my body there isn’t even a single feather. I don’t have the strength to get out of this place and come near you. I request you to tell me all the things you know.”

Although Sampati said all these things, the monkeys did not like him. They did not believe his words. They thought that he was very cruel and he had come with the intention of making them his meal. Since they were prepared to die, it was better that they died fast. The quicker the better. Some of them thought like this. Finally they all agreed on this point. Angada went up the hill. He helped that old uglylooking bird to come into the valley and reach the others. After that

Angada himself started telling him their history in a detailed manner. He started telling the history from the birth of Bali and Sugriva. Their enmity, the history of Rama, his life in the forest, the act of Jatayu, the abduction done by Ravana and how they reached there and how they decided to die -Sampati was told all these things in detail.

The stories Sampati heard made him very sad. He shed tears and said,

“Noble monkeys, the Jatayuyou talk about is my younger brother. Since I have no wings, I can only hear helplessly about the death of my brother. If I were in my old state, I would have taken appropriate measures to avenge my brother and killed Ravana. Once I bet with my brother and we both flew towards the sun. When I saw him getting exhausted I covered him with my wings and that is how my wings were burnt and I fell on this hill. After that I haven’t met him and I heard nothing about him.

The monkeys then said,

“We will tell you all about Jatayu. He became fortunate and fought the moral fight. With the blessings of Rama he has entered heavenly bliss. Now we want to know more about Ravana. Tell us all the things you know about him.”

Sampati replied,

“Although I am incapable of taking any action, I can certainly help Sri Rama with my words. I know certain things. Listen to me carefully.”

Then Sampati told them in quite detail about Lanka, Ravana, the presence of Sita there, her condition there and other details. From his past experience and information from past friends, from his knowledge and his intelligent vision and his ability to prophesy, Sampati gave them a detailed account of the present state of Sita in Lanka. He also blessed the monkeys who were very pleased with him for all the information and the blessings they got from him. Sampati also felt energized and enthusiastic and with the help of the monkeys he was taken back to the hill to the place from where he was brought down. Then, they continued their friendly talk.

Sampati described his past history in a detailed manner. His body was burnt in his efforts to save Jatayu. He fell on the Vindhya Mountain and rolled down deeper and deeper to his birthplace. Jatayu must have thought he had died. However, they had not met each other since. Sampati has a son. His name is Suparsan who had seen Ravana entering Lanka with Sita.He also knows that Sita is guarded there by some giantesses. Then he talked about how he met NishakaRamaharshi and how he served him and how he was blessed by him. That is why he is still alive. The maharshi had blessed him saying that his wings would grow again and good timeswouldl come back to him.

The maharshi had said,

“At a later time, some people would come to me on their way to seek Sita and I would be able to give them proper guidance. Until then I would continue with my present state. But once I inform the seekers of Sita the details I know, I would get back my old shape and strength. This was what the maharshi said and this was his blessing. Time has come for the fulfilment of that prophecy. I was able to meet and tell you all I know about Sita’s present condition. The words of the maharshi will now come true.”

Even as he was talking like this, his lost wings began to grow big and in the sight of the monkeys he acquired his former form.

Sampati thus blessed the monkeys and congratulated them and flew into the sky. That story was thus ended. Now we should examine why, with what intention, Valmiki has introduced the characters of Jatayuand Sampati in the Ramayana. It is obvious that the principle of birds, animals, people, monkeys, trees and even creepers are working for Rama and also the universe is lying hidden in the story. One of the bird brothers died for Rama. The other was reborn because of Rama. Birth and death are simply two sides of the same coin.