Shloka 16

जटायुरावणयुद्धम्

Jatayu’s Combat with Ravana

Devanagari script

काञ्चनोरश्छदान्दिव्यान्पिशाचवदनान्खरान्।तांश्चास्य जवसम्पन्नाञ्जघान समरे बली।।।।

Transliteration

kāñcanoraśchadān divyān piśācavadanān kharān | tāṁś cāsya javasampannān jaghāna samare balī ||

Translation

କାଞ୍ଚନ ବକ୍ଷଃଛଦଧାରୀ, ପିଶାଚମୁଖ ସଦୃଶ ଭୟଙ୍କର ଏବଂ ଅତିଦ୍ରୁତ—ରାବଣଙ୍କ ରଥରେ ଯୋଜିତ—ସେହି ଗର୍ଦ୍ଦଭମାନଙ୍କୁ ବଳବାନ ଜଟାୟୁ ସମରରେ ନିହତ କଲା।

Word by Word

• काञ्चनोरश्छदान्: golden breastplates
• काञ्चनोरश्छदान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काञ्चन-उरश्छद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः: काञ्चनस्य उरश्छदः (golden breast-plates)

• दिव्यान्: splendid
• दिव्यान्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• पिशाचवदनान्: having demon-like faces
• पिशाचवदनान्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिशाच-वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः: पिशाचवत् वदनं येषाम्

• खरान्: asses (draught animals)
• खरान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• तान्: those
• तान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अस्य: of him (Rāvaṇa)
• अस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• जवसम्पन्नान्: endowed with speed
• जवसम्पन्नान्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जव-सम्पन्न (प्रातिपदिक; √पद्/सम्+√पद् in sense ‘endowed’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः: जवेन सम्पन्नाः (endowed with speed)

• जघान: killed/struck down
• जघान: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• बली: powerful
• बली: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (ending -ī as nom. sg. of -in stem)

Context

Powerful Jatayu killed in the combat, the splendid, swift-moving, devil-faced asses with golden shields yoked to the chariot.

Characters & Entities

• Jatāyu
• Rāvaṇa
• Rāvaṇa’s chariot
• khara (asses)

FAQs

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

Dharma as protective courage: Jatāyu risks himself to stop an unjust abduction, showing that righteousness includes active resistance to adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

During Sītā’s abduction, Jatāyu attacks Rāvaṇa’s flying chariot and kills the asses drawing it, weakening the vehicle.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vīrya (valor) and rakṣaṇa-bhāva (the impulse to protect the vulnerable).