Shloka 13

जटायुवृत्तान्तः

Jatāyu’s Testimony and Rāma’s Grief

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वाभ्यपतद्गृध्रं सन्धाय धनुषि क्षुरम्।क्रुद्धो रामस्समुद्रान्तां कम्पयन्निव मेदिनीम्।।।।

Transliteration

ity uktvābhyapatad gṛdhraṃ sandhāya dhanuṣi kṣuram | kruddho rāmas samudrāntāṃ kampayann iva medinīm ||

Translation

Nói vậy xong, Rāma phẫn nộ lao tới chim kền kền, lắp mũi tên sắc như dao vào dây cung; uy thế của Người dữ dội đến nỗi như làm rung chuyển cả mặt đất bị biển bao quanh.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः; quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta/quotative particle (इति-निपातः), indeclinable

• uktvā: having said
• uktvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having said’; avyaya-kriyāviśeṣaṇa

• abhyapatat: rushed/fell upon
• abhyapatat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pat (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (लङ्; imperfect/past), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Eka-vacana (singular); upasarga: abhi-

• gṛdhram: the vulture
• gṛdhram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛdhra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masc), Dvitīyā-vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Eka-vacana

• sandhāya: having fixed/strung
• sandhāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वान्त) with upasarga sam-; ‘having fixed/placed/strung’

• dhanuṣi: on the bow
• dhanuṣi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकliṅga (neut), Saptamī-vibhakti (7th/सप्तमी), Eka-vacana

• kṣuram: a sharp (arrow/weapon)
• kṣuram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकliṅga (neut), Dvitīyā-vibhakti (2nd), Eka-vacana; here ‘sharp (arrow/weapon)’ by usage

• kruddhaḥ: angry
• kruddhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krudh (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā-vibhakti (1st/प्रथमा), Eka-vacana; predicate/attribute of rāmaḥ

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā-vibhakti (1st), Eka-vacana

• samudrāntām: bounded by the sea
• samudrāntām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samudra-anta (प्रातिपदिक; components: samudra + anta)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (समुद्रान्त = ‘sea-bounded/ending at the sea’), Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā-vibhakti (2nd), Eka-vacana; qualifies medinīm

• kampayan: shaking
• kampayan: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kamp (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana; agrees with rāmaḥ; denotes simultaneous action

• iva: as if
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः; simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-avyaya (उपमा-अव्यय), indeclinable

• medinīm: the earth
• medinīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: medinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (fem), Dvitīyā-vibhakti (2nd), Eka-vacana

Context

Having siad so, Rama took his bow, fixed the sharp arrow, and aimed at the vulture. The sea-bound earth trembled.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Jatāyu (as gṛdhra, by context)
• Earth (medinī)
• Sea (samudra)
• Bow
• Arrow

FAQs

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

Power must be governed by truth and restraint: immense strength without verified knowledge can become destructive, even when intentions are protective.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma, believing the bird guilty, prepares to shoot; the narration emphasizes the intensity of his wrath and prowess.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s वीर्य (heroic energy) is shown—while also implying the necessity of tempering valor with विवेक (discernment).