Ramayana 3.293a

The vulture from his slumber woke And heard the words which Sita spoke He raised his eye and looked on her, Looked on her giant ravisher. That noblest bird with pointed beak, Majestic as a mountain peak, High on the tree addressed the king Of giants, wisely counselling: "O Ten-necked lord, I firmly hold To faith and laws ordained of old, And thou, my brother, shouldst refrain From guilty deeds that shame and stain. The vulture king supreme in air, Jatayus is the name I bear. Thy captive, known by Sita's name, Is the dear consort and the dame Of Rama, Dasaratha's heir Who makes the good of all his care. Lord of the world in might he vies With the great Gods of seas and skies. The law he boasts to keep allows No king to touch another's spouse, And, more than all, a prince's dame High honour and respect may claim. Back to the earth thy way incline, Nor think of one who is not thine. Heroic souls should hold it shame To stoop to deeds which others blame, And all respect by them is shown To dames of others as their own. Not every case of bliss and gain The Scripture's holy texts explain, And subjects, when that light is dim, Look to their prince and follow him. The king is bliss and profit, he Is store of treasures fair to see, And all the people's fortunes spring, Their joy and misery, from the king. If, lord of giant race, thy mind Be fickle, false, to sin inclined, How wilt thou kingly place retain? High thrones in heaven no sinners gain. The soul which gentle passions sway Ne'er throws its nobler part away, Nor will the mansion of the base Long be the good man's dwelling-place. Prince Rama, chief of high renown, Has wronged thee not in field or town. Ne'er has he sinned against thee: how Canst thou resolve to harm him now? If moved by Surpanakha's prayer The giant Khara sought him there, And fighting fell with baffled aim, His and not Rama's is the blame. Say, mighty lord of giants, say What fault on Rama canst thou lay?