Shloka 11

जटायुवृत्तान्तः

Jatāyu’s Testimony and Rāma’s Grief

Devanagari script

गृध्ररूपमिदं रक्षो व्यक्तं भवति कानने।।।।भक्षयित्वा विशालाक्षीमास्ते सीतां यथासुखम्।एनं वधिष्ये दीप्तास्यैर्घोरैर्बाणैरजिह्मगैः।।।।

Transliteration

gṛdhrarūpam idaṃ rakṣo vyaktaṃ bhavati kānane | bhakṣayitvā viśālākṣīm āste sītāṃ yathāsukham | enaṃ vadhiṣye dīptāsyair ghōrair bāṇair ajihmagaiḥ ||

Translation

„Dies ist offenkundig ein Rākṣasa im Wald, der die Gestalt eines Geiers angenommen hat. Nachdem er die großäugige Sītā verschlungen hat, sitzt er hier nach Belieben. Ich werde ihn mit schrecklichen, geradlinig fliegenden Pfeilen mit flammenden Spitzen töten.“

Word by Word

• gṛdhra-rājam: the vulture-king (Jaṭāyu)
• gṛdhra-rājam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛdhra (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (gṛdhrāṇāṃ rājā = king of vultures/birds)

• pariṣvajya: having embraced
• pariṣvajya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√svaj (धातु) → pariṣvajya (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive), पूर्वकालिक (having embraced)

• parityajya: having cast aside
• parityajya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√tyaj (धातु) → parityajya (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive), पूर्वकालिक (having abandoned)

• mahat: great
• mahat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of dhanuḥ)

• dhanuḥ: bow
• dhanuḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• nipapāta: fell down
• nipapāta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√pat (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• avaśaḥ: helpless
• avaśaḥ: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषण (helpless/overpowered)

• bhūmau: on the ground
• bhūmau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• ruroda: cried
• ruroda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √rud (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• sa-lakṣmaṇaḥ: with Lakṣmaṇa
• sa-lakṣmaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ) + lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः (lakṣmaṇena saha)

Context

This demon in the guise of a vulture has evidently eaten away the large-eyed Sita and is happily relaxing in the forest. With my terrific arrows with burning tips that can go straight I will kill him.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Rākṣasa (as a category; misidentified target)
• Forest (kānana)
• Arrows (bāṇa)

FAQs

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

Righteous punishment must rest on truth: when satya is uncertain, dharma demands inquiry before force; anger-driven ‘justice’ can become adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma, overwhelmed by fear for Sītā, misreads the wounded bird as a disguised demon and resolves to strike it.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast, the verse highlights the importance of self-control (kṣamā/dama) and careful judgment—virtues tested in crisis.