Shloka 3.68.37
जटायुनिर्वाणसंस्कारः — Jatayu’s Final Testimony and Funeral Rites
स गृध्रराजः कृतवान्यशस्करं सुदुष्करं कर्म रणे निपातितः।महर्षिकल्पेन च संस्कृतस्तदा जगाम पुण्यां गतिमात्मनश्शुभाम्।।।।
sa gṛdhrarājaḥ kṛtavān yaśaskaraṃ suduṣkaraṃ karma raṇe nipātitaḥ |
maharṣikalpena ca saṃskṛtas tadā jagāma puṇyāṃ gatim ātmanaḥ śubhām ||
That king of vultures, fallen in battle after accomplishing a most difficult and glorious deed, was then sanctified according to the rites of the great seers; and he attained a holy and auspicious destiny for his self.
The king of vultures had performed a very difficult and glorious feat by laying down his life fighting. Sanctified by Rama's offering as laid down in scriptures by the seers, he attained a holy, auspicious and divine state of the self.
Dharma teaches that truthful, self-sacrificing protection of the vulnerable is supremely meritorious; when joined with proper rites, such virtue culminates in auspicious destiny.
The narration concludes Jatāyu’s episode: having died fighting, and having been sanctified by Rāma’s rites, he reaches a blessed state.
Jatāyu’s courage and steadfastness (not retreating from righteous battle), and the idea that such satya-aligned bravery is honored by cosmic and ritual order.