Shloka 19

जटायुरुपदेशः — Jatāyu Confronts Rāvaṇa

Ethical Admonition and Challenge

Devanagari script

षष्टिर्वर्षसहस्राणि मम जातस्य रावण।।।।पितृपैतामहं राज्यं यथावदनुतिष्ठतः।

Transliteration

ṣaṣṭir varṣasahasrāṇi mama jātasya rāvaṇa | pitṛpaitāmahaṃ rājyaṃ yathāvad anutiṣṭhataḥ ||

Translation

O Rāvaṇa, sechzigtausend Jahre sind seit meiner Geburt vergangen; in dieser Zeit habe ich das väterlich-ahnliche Reich, wie es sich ziemt, ordnungsgemäß bewahrt und geführt.

Word by Word

• वृद्धः: old
• वृद्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; अहम् इत्यस्य विशेषण

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• युवा: young
• युवा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युवन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; त्वम् इत्यस्य विशेषण

• धन्वी: bow-wielding
• धन्वी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘bowman’

• सशरः: with arrows
• सशरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: शरैः सह (अव्ययीभाव/तत्पुरुष-प्राय; ‘with arrows’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• कवची: armoured
• कवची: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कवचिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘armoured’

• रथी: chariot-rider
• रथी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘charioteer/chariot-rider’

• तथापि: even then
• तथापि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/व्यभिचार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा+अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (तथापि = concessive ‘even so’)

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+√दा (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having taken/carrying off’

• वैदेहीम्: Vaidehi (Sita)
• वैदेहीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदेही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• कुशली: safe, unharmed
• कुशली: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुशलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; predicate adjective to ‘tvam’

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

• गमिष्यसि: you will go
• गमिष्यसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

Sixty thousand years ago I was born, O Ravana ! Since then I have ruled justly my hereditary kingdom.

Characters & Entities

• Jatāyu
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Authority is validated by long practice of dharma: Jatāyu grounds his counsel in a life of rightful governance and inherited responsibility.

What is the narrative situation?

Jatāyu establishes his moral seniority and credibility while confronting Rāvaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Integrity over time—steadfast adherence to duty (yathāvat).