Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 52

श्रीमद्रामायणकथासङ्क्षेपः / The Ramayana in Synopsis

Narada’s Summary to Valmiki

Devanagari script

तेन मायाविना दूरमपवाह्य नृपात्मजौ ।।।।जहार भार्यां रामस्य गृध्रं हत्वा जटायुषम् ।

Transliteration

tena māyāvinā dūram apavāhya nṛpātmajau | jahāra bhāryāṃ rāmasya gṛdhraṃ hatvā jaṭāyuṣam || 1.1.52 ||

Translation

Nhờ mưu kế huyễn trá, hắn nhử hai hoàng tử đi xa; rồi cướp đoạt hiền thê của Rāma, và sau khi sát hại chim kền kền Jaṭāyu, liền mang nàng đi mất.

Word by Word

• gṛdhram: the vulture (Jaṭāyus)
• gṛdhram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛdhra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; object of ‘dṛṣṭvā’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• nihatam: slain
• nihatam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni-√han; nihata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: PPP (क्त) from √han with ni-; Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; agrees with ‘gṛdhram’

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Ktvānta absolutive (क्त्वा), ‘having seen’

• hṛtām: abducted
• hṛtām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √hṛ; hṛtā (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: PPP (क्त), Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; agrees with ‘maithilīm’

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: Ktvānta absolutive (क्त्वा), ‘having heard’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• maithilīm: Maithilī (Sītā)
• maithilīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maithilī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; object of ‘śrutvā’ (heard about)

• rāghavaḥ: Rāghava (Rāma)
• rāghavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; subject

• śokasantaptaḥ: grief-stricken
• śokasantaptaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śoka-santapta (प्रातिपदिक; शोक + सन्तप्त)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; PPP (क्त) ‘santapta’ from √tap; tatpuruṣa ‘tormented by grief’

• vilalāpa: lamented
• vilalāpa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√lap (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्; perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• ākulendriyaḥ: with agitated senses
• ākulendriyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ākula-indriya (प्रातिपदिक; आकुल + इन्द्रिय)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi ‘whose senses are disturbed’ qualifying Rāghava

Context

Disregarding his words Ravana incited by fate left for the hermitage of Rama along with Maricha.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa (implied as abductor)
• Mārīca
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sītā
• Jaṭāyu

FAQs

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

Deception and the violation of another’s spouse are grave adharma; the verse frames the abduction as an ethical rupture that demands restoration of justice.

What is the narrative situation?

Mārīca’s illusion draws Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa away; Rāvaṇa abducts Sītā and kills Jaṭāyu who tries to stop him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Jaṭāyu’s loyalty and courage—risking his life to defend Sītā and resist wrongdoing.