Shloka 1

जटायुरुपदेशः — Jatāyu Confronts Rāvaṇa

Ethical Admonition and Challenge

Devanagari script

तं शब्दमवसुप्तस्तु जटायुरथ शुश्रुवे।निरीक्ष्य रावणं क्षिप्रं वैदेहीं च ददर्श सः।।।।

Transliteration

taṃ śabdam avasuptas tu jaṭāyur atha śuśruve |

nirīkṣya rāvaṇaṃ kṣipraṃ vaidehīṃ ca dadarśa saḥ || 3.50.1 ||

Translation

正在歇息的迦多由听见那呼号；他立刻抬眼望去，便看见罗波那与毗提诃之女（悉多）。

Word by Word

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• शब्दम्: sound
• शब्दम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śabda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• अवसुप्तः: having been asleep
• अवसुप्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ava√svap (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Pumliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; adjectival to jaṭāyuḥ; meaning 'having slept/reposing'

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (निपात), adversative/emphatic particle

• जटायुः: Jatāyu
• जटायुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jaṭāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana (proper noun)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta/avyaya; sequential connector

• शुश्रुवे: heard
• शुश्रुवे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• निरीक्ष्य: having looked at
• निरीक्ष्य: Kriyā (क्रिया-अनुक्रम)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir√īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), avyaya; prior action to main verb

• रावणम्: Rāvaṇa
• रावणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana (proper noun)

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly
• क्षिप्रम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kṣipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषण-रूपेण द्वितीया एकवचन)

• वैदेहीम्: Vaidehī (Sītā)
• वैदेहीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaidehī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā, Ekavacana (epithet of Sītā)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (समुच्चय-निपात), conjunction

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

Context

While reposing, Jatayu heard the cry and at once looked up and saw Ravana and Vaidehi.

Characters & Entities

• Jatāyu
• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā (Vaidehī)

FAQs

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

Dharma begins with responsiveness to adharma: hearing a distress-cry, the righteous do not remain indifferent but immediately investigate and act.

What is the narrative situation?

During Sītā’s abduction, Jatāyu hears her cry and immediately sees Rāvaṇa carrying her away.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Jatāyu’s vigilance and protective duty (rakṣā-dharma) toward the vulnerable.