Shloka 18
Sāvitrī’s Trirātra-Vrata and Departure with Satyavān (सावित्रीव्रतनिश्चयः सहगमनं च)
दहामानेन तु हृदा रामो5भ्यपतदाश्रमम् | स ददर्श तदा गृध्र॑ं निहतं पर्वतोपमम्,श्रीरामचन्द्रजीका हृदय शोकाग्निसे दग्ध हो रहा था। वे शीघ्रतापूर्वक आश्रमकी ओर बढ़े। मार्गमें उन्हें पर्वताकार गृध्रराज जटायु दिखायी दिये, जो रावणके हाथसे घायल हुए पड़े थे
dahāmanena tu hṛdā rāmo 'bhyapatad āśramam | sa dadarśa tadā gṛdhraṃ nihataṃ parvatopamam ||
Dijo Mārkaṇḍeya: Con el corazón abrasado por el fuego de la aflicción, Rāma se apresuró hacia el āśrama. En el camino vio al rey de los buitres, Jatāyu, abatido en el suelo, enorme como una montaña, herido en la lucha contra Rāvaṇa.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of selfless protection: Jatāyu’s fall represents sacrifice in defense of righteousness, and Rama’s burning grief points to the virtuous response—recognizing, honoring, and learning from such dharmic courage.
Rama, overwhelmed with sorrow, rushes toward the hermitage and on the way encounters the vulture-king Jatāyu lying struck down, mountain-like in form, after being wounded in his confrontation with Rāvaṇa.