Shloka 41

जटायुरावणयुद्धम्

Jatayu’s Combat with Ravana

Devanagari script

ततो मुहूर्तं सङ्ग्रामो बभूवातुल्यवीर्ययोः।।।।राक्षसानां च मुख्यस्य पक्षिणां प्रवरस्य च।

Transliteration

tato muhūrtaṁ saṅgrāmo babhūvātulya-vīryayoḥ | rākṣasānāṁ ca mukhyasya pakṣiṇāṁ pravarasya ca ||

Translation

于是，在短暂的一刻，两位力量不等的勇士展开了激烈的战斗——罗刹中的魁首，与群鸟中最尊贵者。

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/कालवाचक

• मुहूर्तम्: for a moment
• मुहूर्तम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुहूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative of duration), एकवचन; कालपरिमाण

• सङ्ग्रामः: battle
• सङ्ग्रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्ग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• बभूव: occurred
• बभूव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अतुल्यवीर्ययोः: of the two of unequal valor
• अतुल्यवीर्ययोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतुल्य + वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (अतुल्यं वीर्यं ययोः), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; द्वयोः सम्बन्ध

• राक्षसानाम्: of the demons
• राक्षसानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• मुख्यस्य: of the chief
• मुख्यस्य: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying implied राक्षसस्य = Ravana)

• पक्षिणाम्: of birds
• पक्षिणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• प्रवरस्य: of the foremost
• प्रवरस्य: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying implied पक्षिणां प्रवरस्य = Jatāyu)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

Context

Between the warriors of unequal valour, Ravana and Jatayu, the chief of the demons and the foremost of the birds, the fight took place for a moment.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Jaṭāyu
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma is not abandoned because an opponent is stronger; moral duty can demand resistance even in unequal conditions.

What is the narrative situation?

The poem pauses to characterize the combat as one between unequal powers—yet both champions are leaders of their kinds.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral courage (dhairya) in the face of disproportionate force.