Shloka 45

जटायुरावणयुद्धम्

Jatayu’s Combat with Ravana

Devanagari script

तं नीलजीमूतनिकाशकल्पं सुपाण्डुरोरस्कमुदारवीर्यम्।ददर्श लङ्काधिपतिः पृथिव्यां जटायुषं शान्तमिवाग्निदावम्।।।।

Transliteration

taṃ nīlajīmūtanikāśakalpaṃ supāṇḍuroraskam udāravīryam |

dadarśa laṅkādhipatiḥ pṛthivyāṃ jaṭāyuṣaṃ śāntam ivāgnidāvam ||

Translation

ଲଙ୍କାଧିପତି ଧରାପଟେ ପଡ଼ିଥିବା ଜଟାୟୁକୁ ଦେଖିଲା—ନୀଳ ମେଘ ସଦୃଶ ଶ୍ୟାମ, ବିଶାଳ ପାଣ୍ଡୁର ବକ୍ଷସ୍ଥଳ ଓ ଉଦାର ବୀର୍ୟରେ ଭରପୂର—ନିବିଯାଇଥିବା ଦାବାଗ୍ନି ପରି ଶାନ୍ତ।

Word by Word

• तम्: him/that (one)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• नील-जीमूत-निकाश-कल्पम्: resembling a dark-blue cloud
• नील-जीमूत-निकाश-कल्पम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nīla + jīmūta + nikāśa + kalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa chain (तत्पुरुष-समास): ‘like the appearance of a dark cloud’; Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; qualifies ‘जटायुषम्’

• सु-पाण्डुर-उरस्कम्: with a very fair chest
• सु-पाण्डुर-उरस्कम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + pāṇḍura + uras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘with very pale/fair chest’; Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; qualifies ‘जटायुषम्’

• उदार-वीर्यम्: of great valor
• उदार-वीर्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udāra + vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘noble in valor’; Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; qualifies ‘जटायुषम्’

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• लङ्का-अधिपतिः: the lord of Laṅkā (Rāvaṇa)
• लङ्का-अधिपतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laṅkā + adhipati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) ‘lord of Laṅkā’; Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• पृथिव्याम्: on the earth/ground
• पृथिव्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛthivī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th), Singular

• जटायुषम्: Jatāyu
• जटायुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jaṭāyus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• शान्तम्: stilled/quenched
• शान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; qualifies ‘जटायुषम्’

• इव: like/as if
• इव: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) of comparison

• अग्नि-दावम्: a forest fire
• अग्नि-दावम्: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni + dāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘forest-fire’; Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; object of comparison with ‘शान्तम्’

Context

Ravana in a rage took ten dreadful darts (looking) like the staff of death with a desire to crush the enemy.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa (Laṅkādhipati)
• Laṅkā
• Jatāyu

FAQs

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

The verse honors righteous valor even in defeat; dharma recognizes the moral grandeur of one who fights to protect, regardless of outcome.

What is the narrative situation?

After crippling Jatāyu, Rāvaṇa looks upon him lying fallen, described with vivid heroic imagery.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Udāra-vīrya (noble courage) in Jatāyu—portrayed as a ‘fire’ subdued only by overwhelming force.