Shloka 17
जटायुरुपदेशः — Jatāyu Confronts Rāvaṇa
Ethical Admonition and Challenge
स भारस्सौम्य भर्तव्यो यो नरं नावसादयेत्।।।।तदन्नमपि भोक्तव्यं जीर्यते यदनामयम्।
sa bhāraḥ saumya bhartavyo yo naraṃ nāvasādayet | tad annam api bhoktavyaṃ jīryate yad anāmayam ||
ಸೌಮ್ಯನೇ, ಮನುಷ್ಯನನ್ನು ಕುಗ್ಗಿಸದಷ್ಟು ಮಾತ್ರವೇ ಭಾರವನ್ನು ಹೊರುವದು ಯುಕ್ತ; ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಹಾನಿಯಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಸುಖವಾಗಿ ಜೀರ್ಣವಾಗುವ ಆರೋಗ್ಯಕರ ಅನ್ನವನ್ನೇ ಭುಂಜಿಸಬೇಕು॥
O gentle Ravana! one should carry that much of weight which does not tire him. One should eat only that wholesome food which can be easily digested.
FAQs
Self-restraint is dharma: wise action is proportionate—one should not undertake what exceeds one’s rightful capacity and leads to ruin.
Jatāyu counsels Rāvaṇa with proverbial wisdom, implying that abducting Sītā is an unbearable ‘burden’ that will destroy him.
Measured judgment and moderation.