Shloka 3.68.30
जटायुनिर्वाणसंस्कारः — Jatayu’s Final Testimony and Funeral Rites
या गतिर्यज्ञशीलानामाहिताग्नेश्च या गतिः।।3.68.29।।अपरावर्तिनां या च या च भूमिप्रदायिनाम्।मया त्वं समनुज्ञातो गच्छ लोकाननुत्तमान्।।3.68.30।।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.
The verse teaches dharma as honoring sacrifice with sanctification and truthful praise: noble deeds (courage, charity, ritual duty) are affirmed as paths to auspicious states.
Rāma blesses Jatāyu at the completion of rites, equating his death in righteous struggle to the merits of major dharmic acts recognized by tradition.
Rāma’s justice and reverence for dharma—he publicly validates Jatāyu’s virtue and ensures he is honored like the most meritorious.