Shloka 4

जटायुरावणयुद्धम्

Jatayu’s Combat with Ravana

Devanagari script

तद्बभूवाद्भुतं युद्धं गृध्रराक्षसयोस्तदा।सपक्षयोर्माल्यवतोर्महापर्वतयोरिव।।।।

Transliteration

tad babhūvādbhutaṁ yuddhaṁ gṛdhra-rākṣasayos tadā | sa-pakṣayor mālyavator mahā-parvatayor iva ||

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ഗൃധ്രനും രാക്ഷസനും തമ്മിലുള്ള ആ യുദ്ധം അത്ഭുതകരമായി തോന്നി—മാല്യവാൻ പർവതനിരയിലെ ചിറകുള്ള രണ്ടു മഹാപർവതങ്ങൾ ഏറ്റുമുട്ടുന്നതുപോലെ.

Word by Word

• tat: that (event)
• tat: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• babhūva: became / took place
• babhūva: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्, past/imperfect), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• adbhutam: wonderful, astonishing
• adbhutam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adbhuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन); viśeṣaṇa of yuddham

• yuddham: battle
• yuddham: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition to tat)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• gṛdhra-rākṣasayoḥ: of the vulture and the demon
• gṛdhra-rākṣasayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛdhra + rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: Dvandva (द्वन्द्व) ‘vulture and demon’; Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठी), Dvivacana (द्विवचन)

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya (काल-अव्यय/adverb of time)

• sa-pakṣayoḥ: of the winged ones
• sa-pakṣayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive; qualifying the comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa + pakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘with wings’; Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठी), Dvivacana (द्विवचन)

• mālyavatoḥ: of (the two) Mālyavat (mountains)
• mālyavatoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mālyavat (प्रातिपदिक; proper name)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठी), Dvivacana (द्विवचन)

• mahā-parvatayoḥ: of two great mountains
• mahā-parvatayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive; in simile)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + parvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘great mountains’; Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठी), Dvivacana (द्विवचन)

• iva: like, as if
• iva: Upamā (उपमा/Simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-avyaya (उपमा-अव्यय/comparative particle)

Context

The duel between Ravana and Jatayu looked as though it was a fight between two huge winged mountains of Malyavan range.

Characters & Entities

• Jaṭāyu
• Rāvaṇa
• Mālyavān (mountain range)

FAQs

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

Dharma can make even an unequal contest glorious: the epic frames righteous resistance as worthy of awe, regardless of the fighter’s status.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator describes the grandeur and intensity of the fight between Jaṭāyu and Rāvaṇa using a mountain-simile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Heroic dignity in defense of righteousness—Jaṭāyu’s stand elevates the conflict to epic stature.