Shloka 12

जटायुवृत्तान्तः

Jatāyu’s Testimony and Rāma’s Grief

Devanagari script

गृध्ररूपमिदं रक्षो व्यक्तं भवति कानने।।3.67.11।।भक्षयित्वा विशालाक्षीमास्ते सीतां यथासुखम्।एनं वधिष्ये दीप्तास्यैर्घोरैर्बाणैरजिह्मगैः।।3.67.12।।

Transliteration

gṛdhrarūpam idaṃ rakṣo vyaktaṃ bhavati kānane | bhakṣayitvā viśālākṣīm āste sītāṃ yathāsukham | enaṃ vadhiṣye dīptāsyair ghōrair bāṇair ajihmagaiḥ ||

Translation

കാനനത്തിൽ ഇത് ഗൃധ്രരൂപത്തിലുള്ള രാക്ഷസൻ തന്നെയെന്ന് വ്യക്തമാണ്; വിശാലാക്ഷിയായ സീതയെ ഭക്ഷിച്ച് സുഖമായി ഇരിക്കുന്നു—ഇവനെ ഞാൻ ദീപ്തമുഖമായ ഭയങ്കരവും നേരെ പറക്കുന്ന അജിഹ്മഗ ബാണങ്ങളാൽ വധിക്കും।

Word by Word

• bhaya-dām: fear-giving
• bhaya-dām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक) + dā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (bhayaṃ dadāti yā = giving fear)

• alpa-sattvānām: of the timid
• alpa-sattvānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: alpa (प्रातिपदिक) + sattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (alpaṃ sattvaṃ yeṣām = of the timid)

• bībhatsām: hideous
• bībhatsām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bībhatsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• raudra-darśanām: fierce-looking
• raudra-darśanām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: raudra (प्रातिपदिक) + darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (raudraṃ darśanaṃ yasyāḥ = of fierce appearance)

• lamba-udarīm: big-bellied
• lamba-udarīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lamba (प्रातिपदिक) + udara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (lambam udaraṃ yasyāḥ = big-bellied)

• tīkṣṇa-daṃṣṭrām: sharp-fanged
• tīkṣṇa-daṃṣṭrām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tīkṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + daṃṣṭrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (tīkṣṇā daṃṣṭrā yasyāḥ = sharp-toothed)

• karālīm: grim/terrifying
• karālīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• paruṣa-tvacam: rough-skinned
• paruṣa-tvacam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paruṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + tvac (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (paruṣā tvak yasyāḥ = rough-skinned)

• bhakṣayantīm: devouring/eating
• bhakṣayantīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhakṣ (धातु) → bhakṣayantī (वर्तमानकृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि दृष्टा (seen as doing)

• mṛgān: animals/deer
• mṛgān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• bhīmān: fearful/terrible
• bhīmān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of mṛgān)

• vikaṭām: monstrous
• vikaṭām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vikaṭa (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• mukta-mūrdhajām: with hair let loose
• mukta-mūrdhajām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mukta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त) + mūrdhaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (muktāḥ mūrdhajāḥ yasyāḥ = with loosened hair)

• praikṣetām: the two saw
• praikṣetām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन (dual)

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (dual)

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (then)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (there)

• bhrātarau: the two brothers
• bhrātarau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• rāma-lakṣmaṇau: Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa
• rāma-lakṣmaṇau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक) + lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वः (itaretara: Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa)

Context

This demon in the guise of a vulture has evidently eaten away the largeeyed Sita and is happily relaxing in the forest. With my terrific arrows with burning tips that can go straight I will kill him.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Rākṣasa (as a category; misidentified target)
• Forest (kānana)
• Arrows (bāṇa)

FAQs

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

The ethical takeaway remains: dharma must be guided by verified truth (satya); otherwise punishment risks harming the innocent.

What is the narrative situation?

A duplicated verse-numbering in the Southern Recension reiterates Rāma’s mistaken resolve upon seeing the wounded bird.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The episode tests Rāma’s discernment and restraint—virtues crucial for righteous action.