The noble vulture, Jatayu, in his divine wisdom, made a sincere attempt to dissuade Ravana from his wicked path. He spoke of ancient Vedic traditions and the sacred code of conduct for kings, yet his words fell on deaf ears.
Ravana, consumed by rage, saw his twenty eyes blaze like fiery orbs. His massive earrings sparkled like swinging stars as he, the fierce demon, faced Jatayu in a tumultuous battle. Their clash echoed like thunderous clouds, reminiscent of the legendary winged mountains, Malyavantha, colliding in a cosmic struggle.
Jatayu, with unyielding strength, confronted Ravana’s fury. The demon, affronted by the audacity of the bird obstructing his path, unleashed a torrent of powerful arrows—Nalika, Naracha, and Vikarna—upon Jatayu. Yet, the mighty bird stood firm, his vast wings deflecting the onslaught. He retaliated with ferocity, tearing Ravana’s flesh and sinews, causing the demon king to scream in agony.
In retaliation, Ravana fired ten arrows that pierced Jatayu’s flesh, inflicting severe pain. Despite his wounds, Jatayu landed on Ravana’s chariot, smashing it to pieces. He destroyed the ghostly horses and hurled the charioteer into the distant ocean. Ravana’s bow was shattered, forcing him to grab another and rain hundreds of arrows upon Jatayu, who seemed to nest among them, unfazed. The bird, with a powerful gust from his wings, broke the new bow and tore apart Ravana’s shield, causing the demon’s chariot to crash.
In a final act of defiance, Jatayu attacked Ravana directly, pulling at his hair and striking his heads. Sita watched in prayerful silence, hoping for the demon’s defeat. Ravana, however, overpowered Jatayu, tying his legs with a magical band and clipping his wings, sending the noble bird crashing to the ground. Sita, overcome with grief, wailed for her protector, believing him dead. She trembled with fear, seeing Jatayu as an ominous sign of impending sorrow.
Ravana lifted Sita onto his shoulder and prepared to fly. Jatayu, with his last strength, warned the demon of the inevitable wrath of Rama and Lakshmana. His words foretold the doom that Ravana was inviting upon himself and his kin by abducting Sita, likening her to a deadly poison for the demon race. Sita, now conscious, silently vowed to be the harbinger of Ravana’s downfall.
As Ravana soared through the sky, the heavens mourned. The earth trembled, and the forest creatures lamented. The sages, aware of the divine plan, saw this as a prelude to Ravana’s destruction. Sita’s descent to Lanka was accompanied by omens—her jewelry falling like stars, her garments flowing like the sacred Ganga. The world held its breath, knowing that the demon king carried his death with him and awaited the unfolding of the cosmic justice that was to come.