Shloka 21
जटायुरुपदेशः — Jatāyu Confronts Rāvaṇa
Ethical Admonition and Challenge
न शक्तस्त्वं बलाद्धर्तुं वैदेहीं मम पश्यतः।।।।हेतुभिर्न्यायसंसिद्धैद्धृवां वेदश्रुतीमिव।
na śaktas tvaṃ balād dhartuṃ vaidehīṃ mama paśyataḥ | hetubhir nyāyasaṃsiddhair dhruvāṃ vedaśrutīm iva ||
Não és capaz de arrebatar Vaidehī pela força enquanto eu a contemplo; assim como não se pode, por meros argumentos, furtar a perene revelação védica, firmada na justa ordem.
I am old, you are young, wielding a bow and arrows, with shield to protect and chariot to ride. Even then I will not let you go safe with Vaidehi kidnapped.
FAQs
Dharma is not negotiable by force or sophistry: the verse links protection of Sītā with the inviolability of Vedic truth—both stand as enduring moral order.
Jatāyu asserts that Rāvaṇa cannot abduct Sītā in his presence and invokes the authority of Vedic permanence as an analogy.
Steadfast guardianship—Jatāyu’s unwavering commitment to protect the innocent and uphold moral law.