Shloka 3.68.29
जटायुनिर्वाणसंस्कारः — Jatayu’s Final Testimony and Funeral Rites
या गतिर्यज्ञशीलानामाहिताग्नेश्च या गतिः।।।।अपरावर्तिनां या च या च भूमिप्रदायिनाम्।मया त्वं समनुज्ञातो गच्छ लोकाननुत्तमान्।।।।गृध्रराज महासत्त्व संस्कृतश्च मया व्रज।
yā gatir yajñaśīlānām āhitāgneś ca yā gatiḥ |
aparāvartināṃ yā ca yā ca bhūmi-pradāyinām |
mayā tvaṃ samanujñāto gaccha lokān anuttamān |
gṛdhrarāja mahāsattva saṃskṛtaś ca mayā vraja ||
O king of vultures, mighty one—may you attain the blessed destiny of those devoted to sacrifice, who maintain the sacred fires, who never turn back from battle, and who give land in charity. With my permission, purified by these rites, go now to the unsurpassed worlds.
O mighty lord of the birds ! by my grace attain the state of those who perform sacrifices, who kindle and maintain sacrificial fires, who beat no retreat from the battlefield and who offer land in charity. Purified by my offering of fire, you may depart for the best of the worlds.
Dharma here is gratitude and righteous reciprocity: Rāma honors Jatāyu’s self-sacrifice with proper sanctifying rites and a blessing, treating duty to a benefactor as sacred.
After Jatāyu falls in battle with Rāvaṇa while trying to rescue Sītā, Rāma performs his last rites and blesses him with the merit of exemplary dharmic lives (sacrificers, fire-maintainers, brave non-retreaters, and donors).
Rāma’s compassion and adherence to dharma (maryādā) are emphasized—he grants honor and spiritual benefit to Jatāyu, acknowledging his truthful, courageous service.