Shloka 10

जटायुरावणयुद्धम्

Jatayu’s Combat with Ravana

Devanagari script

स राक्षसरथे पश्यन्जानकीं बाष्पलोचनाम्।अचिन्तयित्वा तान्बाणान्राक्षसं समभिद्रवत्।।।।

Transliteration

sa rākṣasa-rathe paśyan jānākīṁ bāṣpa-locanām |

acintayitvā tān bāṇān rākṣasaṁ samabhidravat ||

Translation

羅刹の戦車にいるジャーナキーを見た。涙に濡れたその眼を見て、彼は矢を顧みず、再び魔に向かって突進した。

Word by Word

• saḥ: he (Jatāyu)
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• rākṣasa-rathe: on the demon’s chariot
• rākṣasa-rathe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa + ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: Tatpuruṣa ‘demon’s chariot’; Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• paśyan: seeing
• paśyan: Karta (कर्ता; participial—agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Śatṛ (शतृ) present active participle ‘seeing’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agrees with saḥ

• jānakīm: Janaki (Sita)
• jānakīm: Karma (कर्म/Object of paśyan)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jānakī (प्रातिपदिक; proper name)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• bāṣpa-locanām: with tear-filled eyes
• bāṣpa-locanām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāṣpa + locana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: Tatpuruṣa ‘tear-eyed’; Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of jānakīm

• acintayitvā: without minding
• acintayitvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: cint (चिन्त् धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्) with privative a-: ‘not considering’; avyaya usage

• tān: those
• tān: Karma (कर्म/Object of acintayitvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• bāṇān: arrows
• bāṇān: Karma (कर्म/Object; apposition to tān)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• rākṣasam: the demon (Ravana)
• rākṣasam: Karma (कर्म/Object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• samabhidravāt: rushed at, attacked
• samabhidravāt: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dru (द्रु धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्, past/imperfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; upasarga: sam-abhi-

Context

Seeing Sita, daughter of Janaka, on the demon's chariot with eyes full of tears, Jatayu without minding the arrows renewed his attack.

Characters & Entities

• Jatāyu
• Jānakī (Sītā)
• Rāvaṇa
• arrows (bāṇa)

FAQs

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

Dharma as protection: the righteous defend the vulnerable even at personal risk, refusing to be deterred by danger.

What is the narrative situation?

Jatāyu sees Sītā weeping on Rāvaṇa’s chariot and renews his assault despite incoming arrows.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vīrya (valor) joined to karuṇā (compassion): courage motivated by empathy and duty.