Shloka 3.50.16

जटायुरुपदेशः — Jatāyu Confronts Rāvaṇa (Ethical Admonition and Challenge)

Devanagari script

सर्पमाशीविषं बद्ध्वा वस्त्रान्ते नावबुध्यसे।।।।ग्रीवायां प्रतिसक्तं च कालपाशं न पश्यसि।

Transliteration

sarpam āśīviṣaṃ baddhvā vastrānte nāvabudhyase | grīvāyāṃ pratisaktaṃ ca kālapāśaṃ na paśyasi ||

Translation

You do not perceive that you are binding a venomous serpent to the hem of your garment; nor do you see the noose of Death already tightened around your neck.

Context

You are not aware that you are tying a venomous snake with the skirt of your cloth. worn by you. You are not able to see the noose of death tightened around your neck.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Kāla (Death)

FAQs

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

Moral blindness precedes downfall: adharma is self-destructive, like embracing a deadly snake, and it draws inevitable death-like consequence.

What is the narrative situation?

Jatāyu warns Rāvaṇa that abducting Sītā is tantamount to inviting his own death.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment (viveka)—the verse contrasts Jatāyu’s clarity with Rāvaṇa’s delusion.