Shloka 9

जटायुरावणयुद्धम्

Jatayu’s Combat with Ravana

Devanagari script

स तैर्बाणैर्महावीर्यः पूर्णमुक्तैरजिह्मगैः।बिभेद निशितैस्तीक्ष्णैर्गृध्रं घोरैश्शिलीमुखैः।।।।

Transliteration

sa tair bāṇair mahāvīryaḥ pūrṇamuktair ajihmagaiḥ |

bibheda niśitais tīkṣṇair gṛdhraṃ ghoraiḥ śilīmukhaiḥ ||

Translation

ആ മഹാവീരൻ രാവണൻ പൂർണ്ണമായി വിട്ട, നേരെ പറക്കുന്ന, മൂർച്ചയേറിയ ഭയങ്കര ശിലീമുഖബാണങ്ങളാൽ ഗൃദ്ധ്രനെ തുളച്ചുകയറ്റി.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he (Ravana)
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• taiḥ: with those
• taiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• bāṇaiḥ: with arrows
• bāṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• mahā-vīryaḥ: mighty
• mahā-vīryaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: Karmadhāraya ‘of great prowess’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of saḥ

• pūrṇa-muktaiḥ: fully shot/released
• pūrṇa-muktaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrṇa + mukta (प्रातिपदिक; past passive participle)
• Form: Samāsa: Karmadhāraya ‘fully released’; Kṛdanta: Kta (क्त) of √muc (मुच्) ‘released’; Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of bāṇaiḥ

• ajihmagaiḥ: straight-going
• ajihmagaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a + jihmaga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: Tatpuruṣa/nañ ‘not crooked-going’ (=straight-flying); Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of bāṇaiḥ

• bibheda: pierced, split
• bibheda: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhid (भिद् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana

• niśitaiḥ: sharpened
• niśitaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niśita (प्रातिपदिक; PPP)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Kta (क्त) of √niś (निश्/‘to sharpen’, in sense ‘sharpened’); Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of śilīmukhaiḥ

• tīkṣṇaiḥ: sharp
• tīkṣṇaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tīkṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of śilīmukhaiḥ

• gṛdhram: the vulture (Jatāyu)
• gṛdhram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛdhra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• ghoraiḥ: dreadful
• ghoraiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of śilīmukhaiḥ

• śilīmukhaiḥ: with barbed arrows
• śilīmukhaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śilīmukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

Context

Then the mighty Ravana rained sharp, dreadful shafts, spears and Vikarnis at Jatayu, king of vultures.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Jatāyu

FAQs

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

It shows how adharma weaponizes skill and strength; technical excellence without righteousness becomes a tool of harm.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa’s deadly volley lands, severely injuring Jatāyu.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Jatāyu’s steadfastness is underscored by the severity of the wounds he endures while resisting.