A Kingly Friendship

The story of the friendship between Jatayu and King Dasharatha is

found in the Srirama Panchali (Bengali Version of Ramayana by

Kritibas).

King Dasharatha was living a life full of material pleasures. He lacked for

nothing he could ever desire. However, whilst he was living in luxury, his

people were suffering. A drought had ravished the kingdom of Ayodhya,

and the people were unable to grow food or have water to drink. King

Dasharatha was oblivious to the fact that the drought was happening as

the outside world did not touch his sheltered life.

The people could see that the King was living with plenty of food and

luxuries, and they blamed him for their suffering and for the drought

itself. Why should the King have everything he needed when the people

were suffering? In their view, he did not care at all for his people or if

they starved.

When King Dasharatha became aware of the drought and the hardships

faced by his subjects, he was approached by a Sage who told him that

although the people were blaming their King for their troubles, the

drought was actually the fault of Shani (or the planet Saturn). Shani, the

Sage told the King, was affecting Rohini Nakshatra and that was why the

drought was happening. If the King wanted his people to stop blaming

him, and for their suffering to end, he must deal with Shani.

In an attempt to solve the issues, King Dasharatha challenged the King

of the Gods, Indro to was. Indra was advised by the other gods not to

take up the fight and Indra tried to offer a peaceful solution. He offered

King Dasharatha water and again, said that the drought was caused by

Shani’s influence so King Dasharatha should take up the matter directly

with Shani to stop the awful drought that was tormenting his people.

Indra said that if the King was successful then obtundent rain would

once again fall on Ayodhya.

Dasharatha went to Shani’s home and called out to him. Shani appeared

to face King Dasharatha, but as he did, his gaze fell upon the King’s

chariot and suddenly the reins snapped. Once this happened, the horse

and the chariot began to fall, and this was when Jatayu made an

appearance.

Jatayu was flying past when he saw the chariot begin to fall and he

swooped in the save Dasharatha’s life by ensuring that the horses and

the chariot did not continue to fall.

Dasharatha was, understandably, extremely grateful to the giant eagle

who have saved him and his chariot, and he asked for his name. Jatayu

revealed that he was the son of Aruna, the charioteer to the Sun God,

and he had come to save the king once he saw him fall.

Following the rescue, Dasharatha and Jatayu were good friends. In

order to seal their bond of friendship, they undertook a fire ceremony.

The situation of the drought had still not been solved and so Dasharatha

returned once again to Shani, to request that he ceased his influence

over Rohini Nakshatra and allow the rain to return to Dasharatha’s

people. Shani agreed to this request.

Once the agreement had been made, Indra also kept his promise to

Dasharatha, and he brought about seven days of non-stop heavy rain

which was enough to ensure that all the water bodies that had suffered

from the drought were once again full of fresh water. The people of

Ayodhya were saved from the drought and peace was settled over the

area.

It is said that the story telling of Jatayu’s friendship and bravery is

protected by the God Narayana and it is sung in the Adi Kanda by

Kritibas.