Shloka 33
जटायुस्संवादः — Encounter with Jaṭāyu and the Genealogy of Beings
Aranyakanda 14
सोऽहं वाससहायस्ते भविष्यामि यदीच्छसि।इदं दुर्गं हि कान्तारं मृगराक्षस सेवितम्।।3.14.33।।सीतां च तात रक्षिष्ये त्वयि याते सलक्ष्मणे।
so 'haṁ vāsa-sahāyas te bhaviṣyāmi yadīcchasi |
idaṁ durgaṁ hi kāntāraṁ mṛga-rākṣasa-sevitam ||3.14.33||
sītāṁ ca tāta rakṣiṣye tvayi yāte sa-lakṣmaṇe |
Jika tuanku berkenan, aku akan menjadi pembantu menjaga tempat kediamanmu. Hutan belantara ini sungguh berbahaya, didatangi binatang buas dan para rākṣasa. Dan wahai anakanda, apabila tuanku pergi bersama Lakṣmaṇa, aku akan melindungi Sītā.
If you so desire I will be helpful to you in guarding your hut. O dear, it is a difficult forest full of wild animals and demons. When you and Lakshmana are away I will protect Sita.
FAQs
Dharma is protective responsibility toward the vulnerable and toward a guest/friend’s family. Jaṭāyu offers guardianship as a moral duty, not as a transaction.
In the forest dwelling, Jaṭāyu volunteers to guard Rāma’s hermitage and specifically to protect Sītā when Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa are away.
Jaṭāyu’s courage and seva-bhāva (service-mindedness), expressed as steadfast commitment to protect Sītā in a dangerous wilderness.