(Reader Note: This is in continuation of the untold story of Ramayana. You should read them before reading this part of the story)
Jatayu sees the mortal body of Lakshman and Sri Ram’s dementia for his brother. He decided to break Sri Ram’s delusion. Jatayu was deeply pained seeing the mental pain and agony of Ram. Vibhishan, Sughriv, and Shatrughna also pleaded to Jatayu to help Ram come out of this state. Jatayu pacified and gave assurance to everyone as he began his attempts.
One day Sri Ram was bathing Lakshman’s dead body sitting near the pond of the garden. Jatayu came and put manure on a big rock and planted seeds of Padmini flower. Sri Ram seeing this said –
“You Idiot, what are you trying to do? Have you ever seen plants growing on a rock? Why are you even attempting it?”
Jatayu left work and started another activity. He put sand in the grinder and started grinding. Ram got irritated and scolded Jatayu –
“You look like a king of fools. Can you ever extract oil out of the sand? You are just wasting your efforts.”
Jatayu kept aside the work and started to do the third activity! He started watering a dead tree. Seeing this Ram got frustrated and shouted at Jatayu –
“What should I tell you? You don’t have any brains. You will never get fruits by watering a dead tree! Do you even understand anything?”
Jatayu left that work too and went to Sri Ram with a smile and said –
“You know so much then why are you carrying this dead body around your shoulder? Isn’t this ignorance? Leave this dead body now.”
As soon as Ram heard this from Jatayu, his eyes widened and he squeezed Lakshman’s body against his and started hugging repeatedly. He shouted at Jatayu –
“You wicked, what rubbish are you talking about? Get out of my sight now!”
Jatayu was disappointed but another demigod came for his help.
Krutaantvadan had become a demigod after renouncing the world. Using his knowledge he saw Sri Ram and also all the attempts made by Jatayu. Without delaying further he came down and consulted with Jatayu.
Krutaantvadan disguised himself as a human. He put the body of a dead woman on his shoulder and squealing he started roaming around the garden. Even Sri Ram was carrying Lakshman on his shoulder and roaming around the garden. Sri Ram saw Krutaantavadan and said –
“O wanderer, are you crazy? You are carrying the body of a dead woman and roaming around. See properly, this woman is dead, not alive.”
“Why are you talking ill? She is the love of my life, my beloved wife! Why are you carrying a dead body on your shoulder? If you know that my wife is dead, can you not see that you are carrying a dead body?”
“What? Am I carrying a dead body?”
“Yes, See you have a dead body on your shoulder!”.
Krutaantvadan removed his wife’s dead body from the shoulder and placed it on the floor. He stood in front of Ram and appeared in his original form and said –
“I’m Krutaantvadan, after renouncing the world, I was born in heaven, and this is Jatayu!“
“So what you are saying is true? My brother is not alive?”
“Yes, Lakshman is dead!”
Sri Ram placed the body of Lakshman on the floor. Vibhishan, Sughriv, and Shatrugna also came down from the palace. The last rites of Lakshman were finally performed with honour and respect.
What happens to Ram after this? Will he renounce the world?
To be continued….
Wisdom Bite
Sometimes you need someone close, a good friend, a well-wisher who can help us come out of our delusions, shortcomings, and, any difficulties in our lives to show us the right path.
We should have few such people around us who are our true “Kalyan Mitras”
