Shloka 21
जटायुरुपदेशः — Jatāyu Confronts Rāvaṇa
Ethical Admonition and Challenge
न शक्तस्त्वं बलाद्धर्तुं वैदेहीं मम पश्यतः।।।।हेतुभिर्न्यायसंसिद्धैद्धृवां वेदश्रुतीमिव।
na śaktas tvaṃ balād dhartuṃ vaidehīṃ mama paśyataḥ | hetubhir nyāyasaṃsiddhair dhruvāṃ vedaśrutīm iva ||
在我注视之下，你不能以强力夺走毗提希；正如仅凭诡辩也无法窃取那由正法所确立、恒久不坏的吠陀圣启。
I am old, you are young, wielding a bow and arrows, with shield to protect and chariot to ride. Even then I will not let you go safe with Vaidehi kidnapped.
FAQs
Dharma is not negotiable by force or sophistry: the verse links protection of Sītā with the inviolability of Vedic truth—both stand as enduring moral order.
Jatāyu asserts that Rāvaṇa cannot abduct Sītā in his presence and invokes the authority of Vedic permanence as an analogy.
Steadfast guardianship—Jatāyu’s unwavering commitment to protect the innocent and uphold moral law.