Shloka 20

जटायुरावणयुद्धम्

Jatayu’s Combat with Ravana

Devanagari script

स भग्नधन्वा विरथो हताश्वो हतसारथिः।अङ्केनादाय वैदेहीं पपात भुवि रावणः।।।।

Transliteration

sa bhagnadhanvā viratho hatāśvo hatasārathiḥ | aṅkenādāya vaidehīṁ papāta bhuvi rāvaṇaḥ ||

Translation

弓は折れ、車は壊れ、牽く獣は倒れ、御者も討たれた。ラーヴァナは地に墜ちたが、なおヴァイデーヒーを膝に抱えたままであった。

Word by Word

• सः: he (Rāvaṇa)
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भग्नधन्वा: with broken bow
• भग्नधन्वा: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भग्न-धन्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः: भग्नं धनुः यस्य सः (one whose bow is broken)

• विरथः: chariotless
• विरथः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः: रथेन वियुक्तः (without a chariot)

• हताश्वः: with slain steeds
• हताश्वः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हत-अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः: हताः अश्वाः यस्य (whose horses/animals are slain)

• हतसारथिः: with slain charioteer
• हतसारथिः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हत-सारथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः: हतः सारथिः यस्य (whose charioteer is slain)

• अङ्केन: on (his) lap
• अङ्केन: करण/आधार (Instrument/means: on the lap)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: पूर्वकाल (Absolutive; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपदी; ‘having taken’

• वैदेहीम्: Vaidehī (Sītā)
• वैदेहीम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदेही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (proper noun)

• पपात: fell
• पपात: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• भुवि: on the ground
• भुवि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• रावणः: Rāvaṇa
• रावणः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

With the bow broken, the chariot destroyed, asses (drawing the chariot) and the charioteer dead, Ravana fell down on the ground holding Vaidehi on his lap.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Vaidehī (Sītā)
• bow
• chariot

FAQs

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

Wrongdoing brings immediate instability and humiliation; adharma, even when forceful, becomes vulnerable under righteous resistance.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa is forced down to the ground after Jatāyu destroys his chariot system and support.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Jatāyu’s efficacy and perseverance in defense of Sītā.