Shloka 34
जटायुरावणयुद्धम्
Jatayu’s Combat with Ravana
तं गृहीत्वा नखैस्तीक्ष्णैर्विददार समन्ततः।।।।अधिरूढो गजारोहो यथा स्याद्दुष्टवारणम्।
taṁ gṛhītvā nakhais tīkṣṇair vidadāra samantataḥ | adhirūḍho gajārūḍho yathā syād duṣṭa-vāraṇam ||
Da packte er ihn mit scharfen Krallen und zerriss ihn ringsum; auf Rāvaṇa aufgesessen, schlug und ritzte er ihn wie ein Elefantenreiter, der einen wilden, widerspenstigen Elefanten bezwingt.
Thereafter, seizing Ravana, Jatayu ascended on his back and pierced his body all over with his sharp claws just as a rider goads an unruly elephant.
FAQs
Dharma as protection: Jaṭāyu uses his strength to resist adharma (abduction and violence), embodying the duty to defend the vulnerable even at personal risk.
During Sītā’s abduction, Jaṭāyu physically attacks Rāvaṇa, mounting him and raking him with talons to stop the crime.
Courage and guardianship—Jaṭāyu’s fearless intervention against a stronger foe for the sake of righteousness.