Jatayu Attacks Ravana to Rescue Sita
As Ravana carries Sita through the sky, the vulture king Jatayu — an old friend of Dasharatha — sees his daughter-in-law in the rakshasa's arms. He attacks with talons, wings, and beak, drawing blood from the lord of rakshasas. But Ravana draws his sword and slices off the vulture's wings, killing him. As she is carried away, Sita drops ornaments and a garment to leave a trail for Rama.
Markandeya said: The king of the vultures, Jatayu, was the son of Aruna and the brother of Sampati. He was a friend of Dasharatha's.
When the bird saw his daughter-in-law in Ravana's arms, he did not hesitate. He rushed at the lord of the rakshasas in fury.
"O traveller in the night!" the vulture cried. "Let her go. Let Maithili go. How can you carry her off as long as I am alive? If you do not give up the daughter-in-law, you will not escape with your life."
He attacked with everything he had. His talons tore into Ravana's body. His wings and beak struck again and again, lacerating the rakshasa in many places. Large quantities of blood began to gush out, like a mountain spring.
Ravana, struck by the vulture who wished to do what would bring Rama pleasure, grasped his sword. He sliced off the bird's wings.
Having killed the king of the vultures — who now looked like a mountain through scattered clouds — the rakshasa grasped Sita in his arms and rose up into the sky.
As she was carried away, Vaidehi watched the earth pass beneath her. Whenever she saw a circle of hermitages, a pond, a river, or a well, she loosened and flung down her ornaments. On the slopes of a mountain, she saw five bulls among monkeys. She flung down an expensive and celestial garment there. Driven by the wind, the beautiful yellow garment fell down in the midst of those Indras among monkeys, like lightning in a cloud. Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 560