Shloka 24

जटायुनिर्वाणसंस्कारः

Jatayu’s Final Testimony and Funeral Rites

Devanagari script

सर्वत्र खलु दृश्यन्ते साधवो धर्मचारिणः।।।।शूराश्शरण्यास्सौमित्रे तिर्यग्योनिगतेष्वपि।

Transliteration

sarvatra khalu dṛśyante sādhavo dharmacāriṇaḥ |

śūrāḥ śaraṇyāḥ saumitre tiryagyoni-gateṣv api ||

Translation

സൗമിത്രേ! ധർമ്മത്തിൽ ചരിക്കുന്ന സജ്ജനർ എല്ലായിടത്തും കാണപ്പെടുന്നു—വീരരും ശരണദായകരും—മൃഗപക്ഷി ജന്മങ്ങളിലുപോലും.

Word by Word

• sarvatra: everywhere
• sarvatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण): ‘everywhere’

• khalu: indeed
• khalu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: khalu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Particle/निपात): emphasis/indeed

• dṛśyante: are seen
• dṛśyante: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive): ‘are seen’

• sādhavaḥ: good people
• sādhavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• dharma-cāriṇaḥ: righteous/virtuous (followers of dharma)
• dharma-cāriṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + cārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (धर्मं चरन्ति इति); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण of ‘sādhavaḥ’

• śūrāḥ: heroes
• śūrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• śaraṇyāḥ: worthy of refuge/protective
• śaraṇyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaraṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण of ‘śūrāḥ’

• saumitre: O Saumitri (Lakshmana)
• saumitre: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saumitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• tiryag-yoni-gateṣu: among those born as animals/birds
• tiryag-yoni-gateṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tiryak (प्रातिपदिक) + yoni (प्रातिपदिक) + gata (कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास: ‘तिर्यग्योनौ गत’ = ‘gone into animal birth’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; अधिकरण

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Particle): ‘also/even’

Context

O Lakshmana! valiant souls and protectors, being righteous and honest are found even among animals and birds.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa (Saumitri)

FAQs

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

Dharma is universal and not limited by birth: nobility, courage, and righteousness can appear in any form of life.

What is the narrative situation?

In mourning Jaṭāyu, Rāma generalizes the lesson that true virtue is found everywhere—even among non-human beings.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral discernment and inclusivity: Rāma honors virtue based on conduct (dharma-caryā), not species or status.