Shloka 20

जटायुरुपदेशः — Jatāyu Confronts Rāvaṇa

Ethical Admonition and Challenge

Devanagari script

वृद्धोऽहं त्वं युवा धन्वी सशरः कवची रथी।।।।तथाप्यादाय वैदेहीं कुशली न गमिष्यसि।

Transliteration

vṛddho 'haṃ tvaṃ yuvā dhanvī saśaraḥ kavacī rathī | tathāpy ādāya vaidehīṃ kuśalī na gamiṣyasi ||

Translation

我已年迈；你却年轻，执弓挟箭，披甲乘车。即便如此，若你掳走毗提希（Vaidehī），也绝不能安然离去。

Word by Word

• वृद्धः: old
• वृद्धः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• युवा: young
• युवा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yuva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• धन्वी: bow-bearing
• धन्वी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhanvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; इन्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive adjective)

• सशरः: with arrows
• सशरः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (यस्मिन् शराः सन्ति = with arrows)

• कवची: armored
• कवची: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kavacin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; इन्-प्रत्ययान्त

• रथी: chariot-rider
• रथी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rathin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; इन्-प्रत्ययान्त

• तथापि: even then
• तथापि: Sambandha-sūcaka (सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā + api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/विरोधार्थक अव्यय (concessive: even so)

• आदाय: having taken away
• आदाय: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√dā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्यय; ‘having taken’

• वैदेहीम्: Vaidehī (Sītā)
• वैदेहीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaidehī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कुशली: safe, unharmed
• कुशली: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kuśalin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘safe/well’

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• गमिष्यसि: you will go
• गमिष्यसि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

Glorious Jatayu, the best among the birds, looked like the peak of a mountain.His beak was sharp. His words were auspious. He spoke from the top of the tree:

Characters & Entities

• Jatāyu
• Rāvaṇa
• Vaidehī (Sītā)

FAQs

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

Dharma demands intervention even against stronger force: age or disadvantage does not excuse silence when injustice is occurring.

What is the narrative situation?

Jatāyu declares his resolve to prevent the abduction, despite Rāvaṇa’s superior youth and weaponry.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vīrya (valor) in service of righteousness.