Shloka 15
जटायुवृत्तान्तः
Jatāyu’s Testimony and Rāma’s Grief
यामोषधिमिवायुष्मन्नन्वेषसि महावने।सा देवी मम च प्राणा रावणेनोभयं हृतम्।।।।
yām oṣadhim ivāyuṣmann anveṣasi mahāvane | sā devī mama ca prāṇā rāvaṇenobhayaṃ hṛtam ||
«Ô toi qui vivras longtemps, celle que tu cherches dans cette grande forêt comme on cherche une herbe qui guérit — cette noble Dame, et ma propre vie aussi — toutes deux ont été ravies par Rāvaṇa.»
O Long-lived one ! she who you are searching in the forest like herbal medicine has been carried away by Ravana along with my life.
FAQs
Speaking satya as a witness is dharma: Jatāyu, even while dying, prioritizes truthful disclosure to aid righteous action.
Jatāyu identifies Rāvaṇa as the abductor and tells Rāma that Sītā has been carried away, while Jatāyu’s own life is ebbing.
Jatāyu’s self-sacrifice and integrity—he fought for Sītā and now offers truthful guidance at the cost of his life.