Shloka 10

जटायुरुपदेशः — Jatāyu Confronts Rāvaṇa

Ethical Admonition and Challenge

Devanagari script

पापस्वभावश्चपलः कथं त्वं रक्षसां वर।।।।ऐश्वर्यमभिसम्प्राप्तो विमानमिव दुष्कृतिः।

Transliteration

pāpasvabhāvaś capalaḥ kathaṃ tvaṃ rakṣasāṃ vara || 3.50.10 ||

aiśvaryam abhisamprāpto vimānam iva duṣkṛtiḥ |

Translation

“Wahai ‘yang terbaik di antara rākṣasa’! Engkau berdosa tabiatnya dan labil; bagaimana engkau, meski berbuat jahat, memperoleh kemegahan kuasa bak vimāna surgawi?”

Word by Word

• पापस्वभावः: of sinful nature
• पापस्वभावः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāpa-svabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: पापः स्वभावः यस्य; Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• चपलः: fickle
• चपलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: capala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Praśna-avyaya

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā, Ekavacana

• रक्षसाम्: of demons
• रक्षसाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (collective)/Pumliṅga usage, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• वर: O best
• वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

• ऐश्वर्यम्: sovereignty/wealth
• ऐश्वर्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aiśvarya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• अभिसम्प्राप्तः: having obtained
• अभिसम्प्राप्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-sam-√prāp (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle; Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate to tvam

• विमानम्: a celestial chariot
• विमानम्: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vimāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; used in simile with iva

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-avyaya (उपमा), particle of comparison

• दुष्कृतिः: evil-doer
• दुष्कृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duṣ-kṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: दुष्टा कृतिः; Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate noun (one who does evil deeds)

Context

O best of demons ! by nature you are sinful, and fickle-minded. You do all forbidden acts. Otherwise,how could you get this wealth, like the celestial chariot?

Characters & Entities

• Jatāyu
• Rāvaṇa
• Vimāna (celestial aerial car)
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma includes moral truth-telling: the righteous openly challenge wrongdoing and question the legitimacy of power gained through adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Jatāyu confronts Rāvaṇa mid-abduction, rebuking him and highlighting the contradiction between wicked conduct and royal splendor.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral courage—Jatāyu speaks truth to a powerful aggressor despite danger.