Shloka 11

जटायुवृत्तान्तः

Jatāyu’s Testimony and Rāma’s Grief

Devanagari script

गृध्ररूपमिदं रक्षो व्यक्तं भवति कानने।।।।भक्षयित्वा विशालाक्षीमास्ते सीतां यथासुखम्।एनं वधिष्ये दीप्तास्यैर्घोरैर्बाणैरजिह्मगैः।।।।

Transliteration

gṛdhrarūpam idaṃ rakṣo vyaktaṃ bhavati kānane | bhakṣayitvā viśālākṣīm āste sītāṃ yathāsukham | enaṃ vadhiṣye dīptāsyair ghōrair bāṇair ajihmagaiḥ ||

Translation

“అరణ్యంలో ఇది గృధ్రరూపం ధరించిన రాక్షసమే అని స్పష్టంగా తెలుస్తోంది. విశాలాక్షి సీతను భక్షించి ఇది యథాసుఖంగా కూర్చుంది. దీప్తాగ్రములైన, ఘోరమైన, వంకరలేని సూటిగా దూసుకుపోయే బాణాలతో దీనిని వధిస్తాను.”

Word by Word

• gṛdhra-rājam: the vulture-king (Jaṭāyu)
• gṛdhra-rājam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛdhra (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (gṛdhrāṇāṃ rājā = king of vultures/birds)

• pariṣvajya: having embraced
• pariṣvajya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√svaj (धातु) → pariṣvajya (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive), पूर्वकालिक (having embraced)

• parityajya: having cast aside
• parityajya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√tyaj (धातु) → parityajya (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive), पूर्वकालिक (having abandoned)

• mahat: great
• mahat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of dhanuḥ)

• dhanuḥ: bow
• dhanuḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• nipapāta: fell down
• nipapāta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√pat (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• avaśaḥ: helpless
• avaśaḥ: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषण (helpless/overpowered)

• bhūmau: on the ground
• bhūmau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• ruroda: cried
• ruroda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √rud (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• sa-lakṣmaṇaḥ: with Lakṣmaṇa
• sa-lakṣmaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ) + lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः (lakṣmaṇena saha)

Context

This demon in the guise of a vulture has evidently eaten away the large-eyed Sita and is happily relaxing in the forest. With my terrific arrows with burning tips that can go straight I will kill him.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Rākṣasa (as a category; misidentified target)
• Forest (kānana)
• Arrows (bāṇa)

FAQs

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

Righteous punishment must rest on truth: when satya is uncertain, dharma demands inquiry before force; anger-driven ‘justice’ can become adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma, overwhelmed by fear for Sītā, misreads the wounded bird as a disguised demon and resolves to strike it.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast, the verse highlights the importance of self-control (kṣamā/dama) and careful judgment—virtues tested in crisis.