Shloka 22

जटायुवृत्तान्तः

Jatāyu’s Testimony and Rāma’s Grief

Devanagari script

गृध्रराजं परिष्वज्य परित्यज्य महद्धनुः।निपपातावशो भूमौ रुरोद सहलक्ष्मणः।।।।

Transliteration

gṛdhrarājaṃ pariṣvajya parityajya mahad dhanuḥ |

nipapāta avaśo bhūmau ruroda saha-lakṣmaṇaḥ ||

Translation

ഗൃധ്രരാജനെ ആലിംഗനം ചെയ്ത് മഹാധനുസ്സിനെ ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച് രാമൻ അശക്തനായി ഭൂമിയിൽ വീണു; ലക്ഷ്മണനോടൊപ്പം അവൻ കരഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• गृध्रराजम्: the vulture-king (Jaṭāyu)
• गृध्रराजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृध्र + राज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ('king of vultures/birds'), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• परिष्वज्य: having embraced
• परिष्वज्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परि + स्वज् (धातु) → परिष्वज्य (ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• परित्यज्य: having abandoned
• परित्यज्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परि + त्यज् (धातु) → परित्यज्य (ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• महत्: great
• महत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; धनुः-विशेषण

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (object of परित्यज्य)

• निपपात: fell down
• निपपात: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + पत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अवशः: helpless, overwhelmed
• अवशः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• रुरोद: wept
• रुरोद: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahartha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सहकारार्थक-अव्यय (preposition/adverb: together with)

• लक्ष्मणः: Lakṣmaṇa
• लक्ष्मणः: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सह-योगे

Context

Rama dropped the bow and embraced the king of birds. He fell down despondent on the ground and began crying along with Lakshmana.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Jatayu (Gṛdhrarāja)
• bow (dhanuḥ)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes honoring the righteous and showing gratitude: Rāma’s embrace recognizes Jatāyu’s sacrificial protection of Sītā.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma physically consoles the dying Jatāyu and breaks down in grief, no longer able to maintain composure.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kṛtajñatā (gratitude) and karuṇā (compassion) in Rāma.