Shloka 12

जटायुवृत्तान्तः

Jatāyu’s Testimony and Rāma’s Grief

Devanagari script

गृध्ररूपमिदं रक्षो व्यक्तं भवति कानने।।3.67.11।।भक्षयित्वा विशालाक्षीमास्ते सीतां यथासुखम्।एनं वधिष्ये दीप्तास्यैर्घोरैर्बाणैरजिह्मगैः।।3.67.12।।

Transliteration

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

Translation

Dieser Rākṣasa, der im Wald deutlich in Geiergestalt erscheint, hat die Großäugige verschlungen und sitzt nun nach Belieben bei Sītā. Ich werde ihn mit schrecklichen, lodernden, geradlinig fliegenden, unfehlbaren Pfeilen töten.

Word by Word

• bhaya-dām: fear-giving
• bhaya-dām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक) + dā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (bhayaṃ dadāti yā = giving fear)

• alpa-sattvānām: of the timid
• alpa-sattvānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: alpa (प्रातिपदिक) + sattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (alpaṃ sattvaṃ yeṣām = of the timid)

• bībhatsām: hideous
• bībhatsām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bībhatsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• raudra-darśanām: fierce-looking
• raudra-darśanām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: raudra (प्रातिपदिक) + darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (raudraṃ darśanaṃ yasyāḥ = of fierce appearance)

• lamba-udarīm: big-bellied
• lamba-udarīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lamba (प्रातिपदिक) + udara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (lambam udaraṃ yasyāḥ = big-bellied)

• tīkṣṇa-daṃṣṭrām: sharp-fanged
• tīkṣṇa-daṃṣṭrām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tīkṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + daṃṣṭrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (tīkṣṇā daṃṣṭrā yasyāḥ = sharp-toothed)

• karālīm: grim/terrifying
• karālīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• paruṣa-tvacam: rough-skinned
• paruṣa-tvacam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paruṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + tvac (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (paruṣā tvak yasyāḥ = rough-skinned)

• bhakṣayantīm: devouring/eating
• bhakṣayantīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhakṣ (धातु) → bhakṣayantī (वर्तमानकृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि दृष्टा (seen as doing)

• mṛgān: animals/deer
• mṛgān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• bhīmān: fearful/terrible
• bhīmān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of mṛgān)

• vikaṭām: monstrous
• vikaṭām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vikaṭa (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• mukta-mūrdhajām: with hair let loose
• mukta-mūrdhajām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mukta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त) + mūrdhaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (muktāḥ mūrdhajāḥ yasyāḥ = with loosened hair)

• praikṣetām: the two saw
• praikṣetām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन (dual)

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (dual)

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (then)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (there)

• bhrātarau: the two brothers
• bhrātarau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• rāma-lakṣmaṇau: Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa
• rāma-lakṣmaṇau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक) + lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वः (itaretara: Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa)

Context

This demon in the guise of a vulture has evidently eaten away the largeeyed 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?

The ethical takeaway remains: dharma must be guided by verified truth (satya); otherwise punishment risks harming the innocent.

What is the narrative situation?

A duplicated verse-numbering in the Southern Recension reiterates Rāma’s mistaken resolve upon seeing the wounded bird.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The episode tests Rāma’s discernment and restraint—virtues crucial for righteous action.