THE SEARCH BEGINS

Sampaati was very old. He and Jataayu were the children of Aruna, the god of Dawn and brother of Garuda, Hari's vehicle. Jataayu and Sampaati in their youth competed with each other as to who could fly higher and rose in the sky. As they approached the sun the heat became intolerable and Jataayu was about to be burnt up.

But Sampaati spread his wings and protected his brother from the fury of the sun. Jataayu was saved, but Sampaati's wings were burnt off. Unable to fly, he fell down on a hill. Since then he could not move but stayed in the same place every hungry for meal and just alive.

"Who brings sad news of my dear brother Jataayu?" he cried in agony. "Oh, Vaanaras, is beloved Jataayu dead indeed? Why did Raama son of King Dasaratha, go to the forest? Why did he lose his wife? Was Jataayu killed by Raavana? Tell me all."

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