Shloka 25

जटायुरावणयुद्धम्

Jatayu’s Combat with Ravana

Devanagari script

समित्रबन्धुस्सामात्यस्सबलस्सपरिच्छदः।।।।विषपानं पिबस्येतत्पिपासित इवोदकम्।

Transliteration

samitra-bandhuḥ sāmātyaḥ sa-balaḥ sa-paricchadaḥ | viṣapānaṃ pibasy etat pipāsita ivodakam ||

Translation

友や縁者、家臣や軍勢、従者もろとも、お前はこれを渇いた者の水のように飲み干している。だがそれは毒にほかならぬ。

Word by Word

• sa-mitra-bandhuḥ: with friends and kinsmen
• sa-mitra-bandhuḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + mitra + bandhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; upapada-tatpuruṣa with saha-/sa- = 'along with'; qualifies implied 'tvam'

• sa-āmātyaḥ: with ministers
• sa-āmātyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + āmātya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; 'along with ministers'

• sa-balaḥ: with (your) forces
• sa-balaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; 'along with army/strength'

• sa-paricchadaḥ: with retinue and gear
• sa-paricchadaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + paricchada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; 'along with retinue/equipment'

• viṣa-pānam: poison-drink
• viṣa-pānam: Karma (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣa + pāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: viṣasya pānam (drinking of poison)

• pibasi: you drink
• pibasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Madhyama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म/Apposition to object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; demonstrative pronoun

• pipāsitaḥ: a thirsty (man)
• pipāsitaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pipāsita (कृदन्त; √pā + desiderative/ppp sense)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; past participial adjective meaning 'thirsty'

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā (उपमा/Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-vācaka avyaya (comparative particle)

• udakam: water
• udakam: Upameya (उपमेय/Compared object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

Context

You are drinking poison along with all your friends, relatives, ministers, the army and your allies. like a thirsty man drinks water.

Characters & Entities

• Jaṭāyu
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Adharma may appear attractive in the moment, but it is intrinsically self-destructive—like poison mistaken for water. Dharma requires discerning the true nature and outcome of one’s choices.

What is the narrative situation?

After Sītā’s abduction, Jaṭāyu confronts Rāvaṇa and warns him that his act will ruin him and those connected to him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Jaṭāyu’s moral courage and truth-speaking (satya): he openly rebukes a powerful aggressor for wrongdoing.