Shloka 8

जटायुरुपदेशः — Jatāyu Confronts Rāvaṇa

Ethical Admonition and Challenge

Devanagari script

धर्ममर्थं वा कामं वा शिष्टाश्शास्त्रेष्वनागतम्।।।।व्यवस्यन्त्यनु राजानं धर्मं पौलस्त्यनन्दन।

Transliteration

dharmam arthaṁ vā kāmaṁ vā śiṣṭāḥ śāstreṣv anāgatam |

vyavasyanty anu rājānaṁ dharmaṁ paulastya-nandana |

Translation

اے پولستیہ کے فرزند! اگرچہ شاستروں میں کوئی قاعدہ صراحتاً نہ بھی آیا ہو، پھر بھی اہلِ علم راجا کے چال چلن کو معیار بنا کر پرکھتے ہیں اور اسی کی روشنی میں دھرم، ارتھ اور کام کو متعین کرتے ہیں، کیونکہ بادشاہ کا کردار عوام کے لیے نمونہ بنتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• धर्मम्: dharma
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• अर्थम्: wealth/aim
• अर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-nipāta (विकल्प), disjunctive particle

• कामम्: desire/pleasure
• कामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-nipāta, disjunctive particle

• शिष्टाः: the learned/elders
• शिष्टाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• शास्त्रेषु: in the scriptures
• शास्त्रेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāstra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Saptamī, Bahuvacana

• अनागतम्: not found/unknown
• अनागतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an-ā-gata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifies (dharma/artha/kāma) as 'not found/unknown'

• व्यवस्यन्ति: determine/prescribe
• व्यवस्यन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-ava-√sā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana; Parasmaipada

• अनु: following
• अनु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anu (अव्यय)
• Form: Upasarga/avyaya used as postposition; 'following/according to'

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• धर्मम्: dharma
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; appositional/object

• पौलस्त्यनन्दन: O son of Paulastya
• पौलस्त्यनन्दन: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paulastya-nandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: पौलस्त्यस्य नन्दनः; Sambodhana, Ekavacana

Context

O son of Paulastya! learned men determine the path of dharma artha and kama, following a king's conduct even if they are not declared in sastras.

Characters & Entities

• Jatāyu
• Rāvaṇa
• Paulastya
• śāstra

FAQs

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

Rulers function as living standards: even beyond written injunctions, society infers and stabilizes dharma (and norms of artha and kāma) by the king’s example.

What is the narrative situation?

While opposing the abduction, Jatāyu reminds Rāvaṇa that a powerful ruler’s behavior shapes what people treat as legitimate—even when texts are silent.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsibility of leadership (rājadharma): the king’s self-discipline and moral clarity, because his conduct educates society.