Shloka 25

जटायुरुपदेशः — Jatāyu Confronts Rāvaṇa

Ethical Admonition and Challenge

Devanagari script

न हि मे जीवमानस्य नयिष्यसि शुभामिमाम्।।।।सीतां कमलपत्राक्षीं रामस्य महिषीं प्रियाम्।

Transliteration

na hi me jīvamānasya nayiṣyasi śubhām imām |

sītāṃ kamalapatrākṣīṃ rāmasya mahiṣīṃ priyām ||

Translation

Mientras yo viva, no te llevarás a esta auspiciosa Sītā—de ojos como pétalos de loto, amada reina-consorte de Rāma.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/हेतुवाचक-अव्यय (indeed/for)

• me: of me / my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; enclitic

• jīvamānasya: while I am alive
• jīvamānasya: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/temporal circumstance)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jīvat (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √jīv)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शानच्), षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘while I am alive’ (genitive absolute)

• nayiṣyasi: you will take/lead away
• nayiṣyasi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nī (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• śubhām: auspicious
• śubhām: Karma (कर्म/qualifier of imām/sītām)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• imām: this (woman)
• imām: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; निर्देशक-सर्वनाम

• sītām: Sita
• sītām: Karma (कर्म/apposition to imām)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• kamala-patra-akṣīm: lotus-petaled-eyed
• kamala-patra-akṣīm: Karma (कर्म/qualifier of sītām)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kamala (प्रातिपदिक) + patra (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (kamalapatre iva akṣiṇī yasyāḥ sā)

• rāmasya: of Rama
• rāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• mahiṣīm: queen/consort
• mahiṣīm: Karma (कर्म/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahiṣī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• priyām: dear
• priyām: Karma (कर्म/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

Context

Rama, Dasaratha's son, is the king of the entire world. He is equal to Indra and Varuna. He is ever engaged in the welfare of the entire world.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• Rāvaṇa
• Jatāyu

FAQs

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

Dharma demands active protection of the vulnerable and fidelity to rightful relationships—Sītā is honored as Rāma’s lawful, beloved consort.

What is the narrative situation?

Jatāyu openly blocks the abduction, declaring that Rāvaṇa cannot succeed while he still has life.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-sacrificial guardianship: Jatāyu’s readiness to stake his life to defend Sītā.