Shloka 1

जटायुनिर्वाणसंस्कारः

Jatayu’s Final Testimony and Funeral Rites

Devanagari script

रामस्सम्प्रेक्ष्य तं गृध्रं भुवि रौद्रेण पातितम्।सौमित्रिं मित्रसम्पन्नमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।।।।

Transliteration

rāmaḥ samprekṣya taṁ gṛdhraṁ bhuvi raudreṇa pātitam | saumitriṁ mitra-sampannam idaṁ vacanam abravīt ||

Translation

ครั้นพระรามทอดพระเนตรเห็นนกแร้งนั้นนอนอยู่บนพื้น ถูกผู้ดุร้ายทำให้ล้มลง พระองค์จึงตรัสถ้อยคำนี้แก่เสามิตรี ผู้เป็นสหายผู้ซื่อสัตย์

Word by Word

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• samprekṣya: having looked at/observed
• samprekṣya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-pra-√īkṣ (धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यबन्त)

• tam: that
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• gṛdhram: vulture
• gṛdhram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛdhra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• bhuvi: on the ground
• bhuvi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• raudreṇa: by the fierce one
• raudreṇa: Karaṇa/Kartṛ (करण/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (or Puṃliṅga in some usages), Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; instrumental of agency/means; here 'by the fierce (one)' i.e., Rāvaṇa

• pātitam: thrown down
• pātitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pātita (प्रातिपदिक; √pat (धातु) + ṇic + kta)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; agreeing with gṛdhram

• saumitriṃ: to Saumitri (Lakshmana)
• saumitriṃ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saumitri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• mitra-sampannam: friendly/well-disposed
• mitra-sampannam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mitra + sampanna (प्रातिपदिक; sam-√pad (धातु) + kta)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa = 'endowed with friendliness'

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; deictic pronoun

• vacanam: speech/words
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra, Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana

Context

Seeing the vulture lying on the ground thrown down by the fierce demon, Rama said to friendly Lakshmana:

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa (Saumitri)
• Jaṭāyu (the vulture)
• Rāvaṇa (implied as ‘the fierce one’)

FAQs

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

Dharma in crisis involves communication and coordination with trustworthy companions; righteous action is strengthened through loyal partnership.

What is the narrative situation?

At the start of the next chapter, Rāma, having seen the fallen vulture (Jaṭāyu), turns to Lakṣmaṇa and begins to speak.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Maitrī (steadfast friendship) between brothers-in-arms—Lakṣmaṇa is portrayed as a reliable confidant in dharmic struggle.