Shloka 17

जटायुरावणयुद्धम्

Jatayu’s Combat with Ravana

Devanagari script

वरं त्रिवेणुसम्पन्नं कामगं पावकार्चिषम्।मणिहेमविचित्राङ्गं बभञ्ज च महारथम्।।।।

Transliteration

varaṁ triveṇusampannaṁ kāmagaṁ pāvakārciṣam | maṇihemavicitrāṅgaṁ babhañja ca mahāratham ||

Translation

He then shattered that excellent great chariot—made with three bamboo-reeds, moving at will through the sky, blazing like fire, and ornamented with gold and gems.

Word by Word

• वरम्: excellent
• वरम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• त्रिवेणुसम्पन्नम्: fitted with three bamboo poles
• त्रिवेणुसम्पन्नम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि-वेणु-सम्पन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: त्रिभिः वेणुभिः सम्पन्नम् (endowed with three bamboo poles)

• कामगम्: moving at will
• कामगम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम-ग (प्रातिपदिक; √गम्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: कामेन गच्छति इति (moving at will)

• पावकार्चिषम्: flaming like fire
• पावकार्चिषम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पावक-अर्चिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: पावकस्य अर्चिः इव (fire-flamed)

• मणिहेमविचित्राङ्गम्: with limbs adorned with gems and gold
• मणिहेमविचित्राङ्गम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मणि-हेम-विचित्र-अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: मणिभिः हेम्ना च विचित्राणि अङ्गानि यस्य

• बभञ्ज: broke
• बभञ्ज: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भञ्ज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• महारथम्: great chariot
• महारथम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: महान् रथः

Context

Then he(Jatayu) broke down the great chariot(of Ravana) glowing like fire, glittering with gold and gems, made of three bamboo reeds, and capable of flying wherever the rider willed.

Characters & Entities

• Jatāyu
• Rāvaṇa
• Rāvaṇa’s chariot

FAQs

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

Dharma is not overawed by power and splendour; righteous action confronts even seemingly invincible force.

What is the narrative situation?

Jatāyu damages Rāvaṇa’s extraordinary aerial chariot, disrupting the abduction.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fearlessness and steadfastness against tyranny.