Shloka 3.67.23

जटायुवृत्तान्तः — Jatāyu’s Testimony and Rāma’s Grief

Devanagari script

एकमेकायने दुर्गे निश्श्वसन्तं कथञ्चन।समीक्ष्य दुःखिततरो रामस्सौमित्रिमब्रवीत्।।।।

Transliteration

ekam ekāyane durge niśśvasantaṃ kathañcana |

samīkṣya duḥkhitataro rāmaḥ saumitrim abravīt ||

Translation

Seeing him—alone in that solitary, hard-to-reach place—breathing with difficulty, Rāma, stricken with even greater sorrow, spoke to Saumitrī (Lakṣmaṇa).

Context

Rama saw Jatayu breathing with difficulty in that solitary, inaccessible place.Overcome by greater grief he said to Lakshmana:

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana (Saumitrī)
• Jatayu

FAQs

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

Dharma in crisis requires attention to the suffering and timely counsel: Rāma recognizes the dying witness and turns to purposeful action through dialogue.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma notices Jatāyu’s labored breathing in an isolated terrain and, grief-stricken, addresses Lakṣmaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s alertness (apramāda) and compassionate responsiveness to a dying ally.