Shloka 33

जटायुरावणयुद्धम्

Jatayu’s Combat with Ravana

Devanagari script

एवमुक्त्वा शुभं वाक्यं जटायुस्तस्य रक्षसः।।।।निपपात भृशं पृष्ठे दशग्रीवस्य वीर्यवान्।

Transliteration

evam uktvā śubhaṃ vākyaṃ jaṭāyus tasya rakṣasaḥ | nipapāta bhṛśaṃ pṛṣṭhe daśagrīvasya vīryavān ||

Translation

ครั้นกล่าวถ้อยคำอันเป็นมงคลนั้นแก่ยักษ์รากษสนั้นแล้ว ชฏายุผู้กล้าหาญก็โผถลาลงซ้ำแล้วซ้ำเล่าบนหลังทศกรีวะ (ราวณะ)

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Prakāra-avyaya (thus/in this manner)

• uktvā: having spoken
• uktvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √vac (धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वा): 'having said'

• śubham: auspicious / good
• śubham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifies vākyaṃ

• vākyam: words
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म/Object of saying)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• jaṭāyuḥ: Jatāyu
• jaṭāyuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jaṭāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• tasya: of that
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Napuṃsaka, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; pronoun

• rakṣasaḥ: of the demon
• rakṣasaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• nipapāta: leapt/fell upon
• nipapāta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pat (धातु) + ni-
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• bhṛśam: violently
• bhṛśam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhṛśam (अव्यय)
• Form: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa avyaya (intensifier: greatly/violently)

• pṛṣṭhe: on the back
• pṛṣṭhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• daśa-grīvasya: of Daśagrīva (Ravana)
• daśa-grīvasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa + grīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: daśa grīvāḥ yasya (ten-necked, i.e., Rāvaṇa)

• vīryavān: valiant
• vīryavān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of jaṭāyuḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīryavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; possessive adjective

Context

Brave Jatayu having thus said these cautious words to the demon dashed against his back again and again.

Characters & Entities

• Jaṭāyu
• Rāvaṇa (Daśagrīva)
• Rākṣasa

FAQs

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

Dharma is not only counsel but action: after warning against adharma, one may be duty-bound to resist and protect the violated.

What is the narrative situation?

After admonishing Rāvaṇa, Jaṭāyu immediately attacks him, initiating direct combat.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protective heroism and self-sacrifice: Jaṭāyu acts despite danger to defend Sītā’s honor and uphold righteousness.