Shloka 21

Devanagari script

अनेकवार्षिको यस्तु चिरकालसमुत्थितः।।।।सोऽयमद्य हतश्शेते कालो हि दुरतिक्रमः।

Transliteration

anekavārṣiko yas tu cirakālasamutthitaḥ |

so ’yam adya hataḥ śete kālo hi duratikramaḥ ||

Translation

他虽年迈，久历岁月，如今却被杀而卧于此；因为时运（命数）确实不可逾越。

Word by Word

• anekavārṣikaḥ: many-years-old
• anekavārṣikaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aneka + vārṣika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ‘अनेकानि वर्षाणि यस्य’ (many-years-old); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• cirakāla-samutthitaḥ: long-lived / having endured long
• cirakāla-samutthitaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cira-kāla + sam-utthita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ‘चिरकालात् समुत्थितः’ (having lived/risen for long time); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ayam: this (one)
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• adya: today/now
• adya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (today/now)

• hataḥ: killed
• hataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate)

• śete: lies
• śete: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śī (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• kālaḥ: time, fate
• kālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/कारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle: indeed/for)

• duratikramaḥ: hard to overcome
• duratikramaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur-atikrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कालस्य विशेषणम्

Context

This Jatayu, who lived for long years, is lying dead now. (The dictate of) destiny is inescapable.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Jaṭāyu
• kāla (Time/Fate)

FAQs

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

Acceptance of impermanence without abandoning duty: even while acknowledging fate’s power, the righteous response is to continue acting according to dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma laments over Jaṭāyu’s body, reflecting on his long life and the inevitability of death governed by kāla.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s reflective wisdom and truthfulness about mortality, alongside his continued commitment to righteous action.