Battle of Ravana and Jatayu, from Chapters 50 and 51 of the Aranya Kanda (Book of the Forest) of Valmiki's Ramayana (Rama’s Journey); folio from the "Burnt" Ramayana

The vulture Jatayu, Lord of the Birds, his beak agape, loses feathers and dark red blood in his desperate fight to save Sita from her kidnapper, the ten-headed Ravana. Since this painting was damaged by fire in India decades ago, Sita is barely visible now at the bottom right corner, in Ravana’s donkey-led chariot. Her expression is pensive, as she awaits her fate. In adherence to the Ramayana text written on the back of the painting, the donkeys were the first victims in the battle that will claim Jatayu’s life.