Shloka 17
जटायुरुपदेशः — Jatāyu Confronts Rāvaṇa
Ethical Admonition and Challenge
Devanagari script
स भारस्सौम्य भर्तव्यो यो नरं नावसादयेत्।।।।तदन्नमपि भोक्तव्यं जीर्यते यदनामयम्।
Transliteration
sa bhāraḥ saumya bhartavyo yo naraṃ nāvasādayet | tad annam api bhoktavyaṃ jīryate yad anāmayam ||
Translation
温和者啊，只当承担那不使人困竭的重担；也只当食用那滋养安和、消化无害的食物。
Word by Word
यत्which (deed)
यत्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; relative object of kṛtvā (‘having done which’)
कृत्वाhaving done
कृत्वा:
Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√कृ (धातु)
Formक्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)
नnot
न:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (निपात)
Formअव्यय (निषेध)
भवेत्would arise/be
भवेत्:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√भू (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद
धर्मःdharma, merit
धर्मः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootधर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
नnor
न:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (निपात)
Formअव्यय (निषेध)
कीर्तिःfame
कीर्तिः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootकीर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
नnor
न:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (निपात)
Formअव्यय (निषेध)
यशःglory
यशः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootयशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
भुविin the world
भुवि:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootभू (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन
शरीरस्यof the body
शरीरस्य:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootशरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन
भवेत्would arise/be
भवेत्:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√भू (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद
खेदःfatigue, distress
खेदः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootखेद (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
कःwho
कः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootकिम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; interrogative
तत्that
तत्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; demonstrative
कर्मdeed
कर्म:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootकर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन
समाचरेत्should practice/do
समाचरेत्:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootसम्+आ+√चर् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद
Context
O gentle Ravana! one should carry that much of weight which does not tire him. One should eat only that wholesome food which can be easily digested.
Characters & Entities
R
RāvaṇaFAQs
Self-restraint is dharma: wise action is proportionate—one should not undertake what exceeds one’s rightful capacity and leads to ruin.
Jatāyu counsels Rāvaṇa with proverbial wisdom, implying that abducting Sītā is an unbearable ‘burden’ that will destroy him.
Measured judgment and moderation.