Shloka 50

Sūrya’s Counsel to Karṇa on Indra’s Intended Request

Kuṇḍala–Kavaca Discourse

Devanagari script

ततो दग्धाविमौ पक्षौ न दग्धौ तु जटायुष: । तदा मे चिरदृष्ट: स भ्राता गृध्रपति: प्रिय:

Transliteration

tato dagdhāv imau pakṣau na dagdhau tu jaṭāyuṣaḥ | tadā me ciradṛṣṭaḥ sa bhrātā gṛdhrapatiḥ priyaḥ ||

Translation

అప్పుడు నా ఈ రెండు రెక్కలు కాలిపోయాయి; కానీ జటాయువు కాలలేదు. ఆ క్షణంలోనే చాలా కాలం తరువాత నాకు నా ప్రియ సోదరుడు—గృధ్రాధిపతి జటాయువు—మళ్లీ దర్శనమిచ్చాడు.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

दग्धौburnt

इमौthese two

पक्षौwings

नnot

दग्धौburnt

तुbut

जटायुषःof Jatāyus

तदाthen, at that time

मेof me / my

चिरदृष्टःseen after a long time

सःhe, that

भ्राताbrother

गृध्रपतिःlord of vultures

प्रियःdear

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

Jaṭāyus

pakṣau (wings)

gṛdhrapati (lord of vultures)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfast courage and devotion to duty: even when one’s powers or instruments (the wings) are damaged, the person’s resolve and identity as a protector can remain unbroken. It also underscores the ethical value of loyalty and kinship—recognizing and honoring a long-unseen, beloved ally.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya narrates an episode in which two wings are burned, yet Jaṭāyus himself is not consumed. At that moment the speaker recognizes Jaṭāyus—his dear brother and the king of vultures—whom he has not seen for a long time.