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 |
यदि इच्छसि, अहं ते वासरक्षणे सहायो भविष्यामि। इदं हि दुर्गं कान्तारं मृगैः राक्षसैश्च सेवितम्। त्वयि सलक्ष्मणे याते, तात, अहं सीतां रक्षिष्यामि।
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.