Shloka 6

जटायुरुपदेशः — Jatāyu Confronts Rāvaṇa

Ethical Admonition and Challenge

Devanagari script

कथं राजास्थितो धर्मे परदारान्परामृशेत्।रक्षणीया विशेषेण राजदारा महाबल।।।।

Transliteration

kathaṃ rājā sthito dharme paradārān parāmṛśet |

rakṣaṇīyā viśeṣeṇa rājadārā mahābala ||

Translation

धर्मात स्थित राजा परस्त्रीचा अपमान वा हरण कसा करील? हे महाबला, विशेषतः राजपत्नीचे रक्षण करणे अत्यावश्यक आहे।

Word by Word

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Praśna-avyaya (प्रश्न-अव्यय), interrogative adverb

• राजा: a king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• स्थितः: abiding
• स्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √sthā (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle; Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; qualifies rājā

• धर्मे: in righteousness
• धर्मे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• परदारान्: another's wives
• परदारान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para-dāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: परस्य दाराः; Pumliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• परामृशेत्: should touch/violate
• परामृशेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: para-ā-√mṛś (धातु)
• Form: Vidhiliṅ (विधिलिङ्, optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• रक्षणीया: should be protected
• रक्षणीया: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √rakṣ (धातु) + anīya (अनीय)
• Form: Anīya-gerundive (अनीय-कृदन्त, 'to be protected'); Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana (agreeing with rājadārāḥ understood)

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; adverbial instrumental

• राजदारा: king's wives
• राजदारा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāja-dārā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: राज्ञः दाराः; Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• महाबल: O mighty one
• महाबल: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya; Sambodhana, Ekavacana (address)

Context

I will not let you take away the auspicious, lotus-eyed Sita, the dear consort of Rama as long as I am alive.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā
• Rāma

FAQs

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

A ruler’s dharma includes restraint and protection: power must not become license to violate others, and royal women are to be safeguarded as part of public order.

What is the narrative situation?

Jatāyu rebukes Rāvaṇa’s act as a contradiction of kingship and righteousness, appealing to norms of rajadharma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral reasoning and admonition: Jatāyu confronts wrongdoing with principled argument, not merely anger.