Shloka 5

जटायुस्संवादः — Encounter with Jaṭāyu and the Genealogy of Beings

Aranyakanda 14

Devanagari script

रामस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा सर्वभूतसमुद्भवम्।आचचक्षे द्विजस्तस्मै कुलमात्मानमेव च।।3.14.5।।

Transliteration

rāmasya vacanaṃ śrutvā sarvabhūtasamudbhavam |

ācacakṣe dvijas tasmai kulam ātmānam eva ca || 3.14.5 ||

Translation

സർവ്വഭൂതസമുദ്ഭവത്തെ സംബന്ധിച്ച രാമന്റെ വാക്കുകൾ കേട്ടപ്പോൾ, ആ ദ്വിജപക്ഷി അവനോട് ജീവികളുടെ ഉദ്ഭവം വിവരിക്കുകയും, പ്രത്യേകിച്ച് തന്റെ കുലവും സ്വന്തം തിരിച്ചറിയലും പ്രസ്താവിക്കുകയും ചെയ്തു.

Word by Word

• rāmasya: of Rama
• rāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• vacanam: speech, words
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative, Singular

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), indeclinable; 'having heard'

• sarvabhūtasamudbhavam: concerning the origin of all beings
• sarvabhūtasamudbhavam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (√bhū) + samudbhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'origin of all beings' qualifying 'vacanam' (as 'about the origin...')

• ācacakṣē: told, narrated
• ācacakṣē: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√cakṣ (चक्ष् धातु)
• Form: Lakāra: Liṭ (लिट्, perfect), Ātmanepada, Purusha: 3rd, Singular

• dvijaḥ: the bird
• dvijaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; here 'bird' (twice-born)

• tasmai: to him
• tasmai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular

• kulam: lineage
• kulam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative, Singular

• ātmānam: himself
• ātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; reflexive 'himself'

• eva: indeed, just
• eva: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

Context

Rama knew he was a friend of his father. So he enquired in a cool, composed voice his name and his lineage.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Jatāyu (the bird)

FAQs

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

Satya (truthfulness) in self-presentation: the bird responds to Rāma’s respectful inquiry by giving an orderly and truthful account of lineage and identity.

What is the narrative situation?

After being honored by Rāma, Jatāyu begins explaining his background, starting with a broad account of origins and then his own family line.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Jatāyu’s openness and reliability: he answers without concealment, establishing trust and rightful alliance.