Shloka 27

जटायुनिर्वाणसंस्कारः

Jatayu’s Final Testimony and Funeral Rites

Devanagari script

सौमित्रे हर काष्ठानि निर्मथिष्यामि पावकम्।।।।गृध्रराजं दिधक्षामि मत्कृते निधनं गतम्।

Transliteration

saumitre hara kāṣṭhāni nirmathiṣyāmi pāvakam |

gṛdhrarājaṃ didhakṣāmi matkṛte nidhanaṃ gatam ||

Translation

ഹേ സൗമിത്രേ, വിറകുകൾ കൊണ്ടുവരിക; ഞാൻ ഘർഷണംകൊണ്ട് അഗ്നി തെളിയിച്ച്, എന്റെ കാരണത്താൽ മരണത്തിലേക്കുപോയ ഗൃധ്രരാജനെ ദഹിപ്പിക്കും.

Word by Word

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

• hara: bring/fetch
• hara: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hṛ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन

• kāṣṭhāni: firewood
• kāṣṭhāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• nirmathiṣyāmi: I will kindle by churning
• nirmathiṣyāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-manth (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन

• pāvakam: fire
• pāvakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• gṛdhra-rājam: king of vultures (Jatayu)
• gṛdhra-rājam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛdhra (प्रातिपदिक) + rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ‘गृध्राणां राजा’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• didhakṣāmi: I will burn/cremate
• didhakṣāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dah (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; desiderative nuance in stem (दिधक्ष-) ‘wish/intend to burn’

• mat-kṛte: for my sake
• mat-kṛte: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + kṛta (कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ‘मम कृते’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th) एकवचन (idiomatic)

• nidhanam: death
• nidhanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nidhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; with ‘gatam’ as predicate complement

• gatam: gone to (i.e., dead)
• gatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gam (धातु) + ta (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP): ‘gone/attained’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; agrees with ‘nidhanam’ (i.e., ‘having gone to death’ = ‘dead’)

Context

O Saumitri ! fetch firewood. I shall generate fire by rubbing them and cremate the king of the birds who has laid down his life for my sake.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa (Saumitri)
• Jaṭāyu (gṛdhrarāja)

FAQs

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

Dharma of honoring the dead: Rāma undertakes funeral rites for one who helped him, showing gratitude expressed through proper rites and respect.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma instructs Lakṣmaṇa to gather wood so that Jaṭāyu may be cremated, indicating immediate preparation for last rites.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s kṛtajñatā (gratitude) and adherence to dharmic rites, extending honor beyond human kinship.