Shloka 12

जटायुरुपदेशः — Jatāyu Confronts Rāvaṇa

Ethical Admonition and Challenge

Devanagari script

विषये वा पुरे वा ते यदा रामो महाबलः।।।।नापराध्यति धर्मात्मा कथं तस्यापराध्यसि।

Transliteration

viṣaye vā pure vā te yadā rāmo mahābalaḥ || 3.50.12 ||

nāparādhyati dharmātmā kathaṃ tasyāparādhyasi |

Translation

Wenn der mächtige Rāma, rechtschaffen im Geist, dich weder in deinem Reich noch in deiner Stadt gekränkt hat, wie kannst du da gegen ihn ein Unrecht begehen?

Word by Word

• विषये: in the territory/kingdom
• विषये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; स्थानाधिकरण

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय (विकल्पार्थक अव्यय)

• पुरे: in the city
• पुरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; स्थानाधिकरण

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय (विकल्पार्थक)

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (6th/4th) एकवचन; here dative sense ‘to you’ (चतुर्थी)

• यदा: when/since
• यदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक सम्बन्धबोधक)

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• महाबलः: mighty, very strong
• महाबलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: महत् बलम् यस्य/महद्बलः (कर्मधारय); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; रामस्य विशेषण

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय (निषेध)

• अपराध्यति: offends, commits a fault
• अपराध्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव+√राध् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; ‘to offend/commit fault’

• धर्मात्मा: righteous-souled
• धर्मात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: धर्मः आत्मा यस्य (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; रामस्य विशेषण

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (प्रश्नार्थक क्रियाविशेषण)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• अपराध्यसि: you offend
• अपराध्यसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव+√राध् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

Powerful and righteous Rama has not offended you, your kingdom or your city. Why do you offend him?

Characters & Entities

• Jatāyu
• Rāvaṇa
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma condemns unprovoked harm: hostility without offence is adharma, and attacking the innocent is morally illegitimate.

What is the narrative situation?

As Rāvaṇa abducts Sītā, Jatāyu challenges him by asserting Rāma’s blamelessness and exposing the injustice of Rāvaṇa’s aggression.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Commitment to fairness and truth—Jatāyu defends Rāma’s integrity and confronts false grounds for violence.