Shloka 3.67.11

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

“This is plainly a rākṣasa in the forest, wearing the form of a vulture. Having devoured the wide-eyed Sītā, he sits at ease. I shall kill him with dreadful, straight-flying arrows with blazing points.”

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.