Shloka 35

जटायुनिर्वाणसंस्कारः

Jatayu’s Final Testimony and Funeral Rites

Devanagari script

ततो गोदावरीं गत्वा नदीं नरवरात्मजौ।।।।उदकं चक्रतुस्तस्मै गृध्रराजाय तावुभौ।

Transliteration

tato godāvarīṃ gatvā nadīṃ naravarātmajau |

udakaṃ cakratus tasmai gṛdhrarājāya tāv ubhau ||

Translation

ثم مضى الأميرَان إلى نهر غودافري، وقدّما كلاهما سكبَ الماء قربانًا لذلك ملك النسور.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla/Deśa-adhikaraṇa (काल/देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय; तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of sequence: 'then/from there'

• godāvarīm: (to) Godāvarī
• godāvarīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: godāvarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• gatvā: having gone
• gatvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा; ल्यबन्त), 'having gone'

• nadīm: river
• nadīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to 'godāvarīm'

• naravara-ātmajau: the two princes (sons of the king)
• naravara-ātmajau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naravara (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'sons of the best of men (king)'

• udakam: water (libation)
• udakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• cakratuḥ: they two performed/offered
• cakratuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Luṅ-lakāra (लुङ्; Aorist), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Dual (द्विवचन)

• tasmai: to him
• tasmai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• gṛdhra-rājāya: to the vulture-king
• gṛdhra-rājāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛdhra (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'king of vultures'

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• ubhau: both
• ubhau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); adjective of 'tau'

Context

Then both the princes went down to river Godavari and offered libations for the king of vultures.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Godāvarī River
• Jatāyu (gṛdhrarāja)
• udaka (libation water)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma includes completing śrāddha-like duties with sincerity; offering udaka signifies remembrance, respect, and truthful acknowledgment of the departed’s merit.

What is the narrative situation?

After the cremation and offerings, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa proceed to the Godāvarī to perform water-libations for Jatāyu.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfastness in duty—both brothers jointly fulfill the rites, showing disciplined adherence to dharmic procedure.