Shloka 3

जटायुरुपदेशः — Jatāyu Confronts Rāvaṇa

Ethical Admonition and Challenge

Devanagari script

दशग्रीव स्थितो धर्मे पुराणे सत्यसंश्रयः।जटायुर्नाम नाम्नाहं गृध्रराजो महाबलः।।।।

Transliteration

daśagrīva sthito dharme purāṇe satyasaṃśrayaḥ |

jaṭāyur nāma nāmnāhaṃ gṛdhrarājo mahābalaḥ ||

Translation

Oh Diez-cuello, firme en el dharma antiguo y apoyado en la verdad, yo soy Jatāyu de nombre, el poderoso rey de los buitres.

Word by Word

• दशग्रीव: O ten-necked one
• दशग्रीव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa-grīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi (बहुव्रीहि): दश ग्रीवाः यस्य; Sambodhana (8th/सम्बोधन), Ekavacana (addressing Rāvaṇa)

• स्थितः: standing/abiding
• स्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √sthā (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle; Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; with locative dharme purāṇe

• धर्मे: in dharma
• धर्मे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana

• पुराणे: ancient/eternal
• पुराणे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; qualifies dharme

• सत्यसंश्रयः: one who relies on truth
• सत्यसंश्रयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satya-saṃśraya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: सत्ये संश्रयः (आश्रयः) यस्य; Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• जटायुः: Jatāyu
• जटायुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jaṭāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• नाम: by name/indeed
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; naming particle

• नाम्ना: by name
• नाम्ना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā, Ekavacana (1st person pronoun)

• गृध्रराजः: king of vultures
• गृध्रराजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛdhra-rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: गृध्राणां राजा; Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• महाबलः: mighty
• महाबलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: महत् बलम् यस्य; Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

Context

O Ravana, if you are brave, fight with me. In a moment, you will be killed like Khara and lie down on the ground.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa (Daśagrīva)
• Jatāyu

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as an ancient, enduring standard, and Satya (truth) as its foundation—Jatāyu frames his identity and authority through moral alignment rather than power alone.

What is the narrative situation?

As Rāvaṇa attempts to abduct Sītā, Jatāyu confronts him and formally declares who he is and what values he stands for.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral courage grounded in truth: Jatāyu asserts righteous standing before engaging an overwhelmingly stronger adversary.