Shloka 21

सीताविलापः

Sita’s Lament and Prophecy of Lanka’s Ruin

Devanagari script

कृतं कर्म महत्तेन मां तथाऽभ्यवपद्यता।तिष्ठता रावणद्वन्द्वे वृद्धेनापि जटायुषा।।।।

Transliteration

kṛtaṃ karma mahat tena māṃ tathā ’bhyavapadyatā | tiṣṭhatā rāvaṇadvandve vṛddhenāpi jaṭāyuṣā ||

Translation

എനിക്കുവേണ്ടി ആ ജടായു—വൃദ്ധനായിരുന്നിട്ടും—രാവണനോടുള്ള ഏകയുദ്ധത്തിൽ മുന്നോട്ട് ചെന്നു അചഞ്ചലമായി നിന്നു മഹത്തായ കര്‍മ്മം ചെയ്തു.

Word by Word

• कृतम्: done, accomplished
• कृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/कृत्-प्रत्ययान्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with कर्म

• कर्म: deed, act
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• महत्: great
• महत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of कर्म

• तेन: by him/that one
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; refers to जटायुः

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• तथा: thus, in that way
• तथा: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; manner-adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• अभ्यवपद्यता: advanced upon, attacked
• अभ्यवपद्यता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि+अव+पद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘advanced/attacked’

• तिष्ठता: standing (firm)
• तिष्ठता: Karana (करण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), तृतीया (करण/सह), एकवचन; ‘while standing/standing firm’

• रावणद्वन्द्वे: in the duel with Ravana
• रावणद्वन्द्वे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण + द्वन्द्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रावणस्य द्वन्द्वम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• वृद्धेन: by the old (one)
• वृद्धेन: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; विशेषण of जटायुषा

• अपि: even
• अपि: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle (निपात) expressing concession ‘even’

• जटायुषा: by Jatayu
• जटायुषा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जटायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

Context

"Though old, Jatayu did a great help to me by resisting Ravana in the duel and advancing (to confront him.).

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Jaṭāyu
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma as protection of the vulnerable: Jaṭāyu embodies righteous duty by confronting evil despite age and risk.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā acknowledges Jaṭāyu’s attempted rescue during her abduction and his duel with Rāvaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Jaṭāyu’s steadfast courage and selfless protection.