Shloka 37
जटायुनिर्वाणसंस्कारः
Jatayu’s Final Testimony and Funeral Rites
स गृध्रराजः कृतवान्यशस्करं सुदुष्करं कर्म रणे निपातितः।महर्षिकल्पेन च संस्कृतस्तदा जगाम पुण्यां गतिमात्मनश्शुभाम्।।।।
sa gṛdhrarājaḥ kṛtavān yaśaskaraṃ suduṣkaraṃ karma raṇe nipātitaḥ |
maharṣikalpena ca saṃskṛtas tadā jagāma puṇyāṃ gatim ātmanaḥ śubhām ||
स गृध्रराजः सुदुष्करं यशस्करं कर्म कृत्वा रणे निपातितः। महर्षिकल्पेन विधिना संस्कृतः सन् तदा आत्मनः शुभां पुण्यां गतिं जगाम॥
The king of vultures had performed a very difficult and glorious feat by laying down his life fighting. Sanctified by Rama's offering as laid down in scriptures by the seers, he attained a holy, auspicious and divine state of the self.
FAQs
Dharma teaches that truthful, self-sacrificing protection of the vulnerable is supremely meritorious; when joined with proper rites, such virtue culminates in auspicious destiny.
The narration concludes Jatāyu’s episode: having died fighting, and having been sanctified by Rāma’s rites, he reaches a blessed state.
Jatāyu’s courage and steadfastness (not retreating from righteous battle), and the idea that such satya-aligned bravery is honored by cosmic and ritual order.