Shloka 38

जटायुरावणयुद्धम्

Jatayu’s Combat with Ravana

Devanagari script

जटायुस्तमभिक्रम्य तुण्डेनास्य खगाधिपः।।।।वामबाहून्दश तदा व्यपाहरदरिन्दमः।

Transliteration

jaṭāyus tam abhikramya tuṇḍenāsya khagādhipaḥ | vāma-bāhūn daśa tadā vyapāharad arindamaḥ ||

Translation

Then Jaṭāyu—the lord of birds, subduer of foes—closed in upon him and with his beak cut off Rāvaṇa’s ten left arms.

Word by Word

• जटायुः: Jatayu
• जटायुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जटायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अभिक्रम्य: having approached/attacked
• अभिक्रम्य: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-क्रम् (धातु: गत्यर्थ)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund)

• तुण्डेन: with the beak
• तुण्डेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• अस्य: of him (Ravana's)
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• खगाधिपः: lord of birds
• खगाधिपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (खगानाम् अधिपः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपाधि

• वामबाहून्: left arms
• वामबाहून्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (वामाः बाहवः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• दश: ten
• दश: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन्/दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; द्वितीया बहुवचनार्थे (qualifying बाहून्)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (then)

• व्यपाहरत्: cut off/removed
• व्यपाहरत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-अप-हृ (धातु: हरणे/अपहरणे)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अरिन्दमः: subduer of enemies
• अरिन्दमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरि + दम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (अरिं दमयति इति), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपाधि (epithet of Jatāyu)

Context

Then Jatayu, lord of the birds, subduer of enemies, overpowered Ravana and dismembered his ten left arms with his beak.

Characters & Entities

• Jaṭāyu
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma permits force to restrain violent injustice; Jaṭāyu’s act is protective, aimed at stopping harm rather than domination.

What is the narrative situation?

Jaṭāyu counterattacks decisively, severing Rāvaṇa’s arms to weaken him and prevent Sītā’s abduction.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fearless resolve and protective strength directed toward a righteous end.