Shloka 33
जटायुस्संवादः — Encounter with Jaṭāyu and the Genealogy of Beings
Aranyakanda 14
सोऽहं वाससहायस्ते भविष्यामि यदीच्छसि।इदं दुर्गं हि कान्तारं मृगराक्षस सेवितम्।।3.14.33।।सीतां च तात रक्षिष्ये त्वयि याते सलक्ष्मणे।
so 'haṁ vāsa-sahāyas te bhaviṣyāmi yadīcchasi |
idaṁ durgaṁ hi kāntāraṁ mṛga-rākṣasa-sevitam ||3.14.33||
sītāṁ ca tāta rakṣiṣye tvayi yāte sa-lakṣmaṇe |
Wenn du es wünschst, will ich dir als Helfer beim Schutz eurer Wohnstatt dienen. Denn diese Wildnis ist gefährlich, von wilden Tieren und Rākṣasas heimgesucht. Und, lieber Freund, wenn du mit Lakṣmaṇa fortgehst, werde ich Sītā beschützen.
If you so desire I will be helpful to you in guarding your hut. O dear, it is a difficult forest full of wild animals and demons. When you and Lakshmana are away I will protect Sita.
FAQs
Dharma is protective responsibility toward the vulnerable and toward a guest/friend’s family. Jaṭāyu offers guardianship as a moral duty, not as a transaction.
In the forest dwelling, Jaṭāyu volunteers to guard Rāma’s hermitage and specifically to protect Sītā when Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa are away.
Jaṭāyu’s courage and seva-bhāva (service-mindedness), expressed as steadfast commitment to protect Sītā in a dangerous wilderness.