Shloka 25

जटायुनिर्वाणसंस्कारः

Jatayu’s Final Testimony and Funeral Rites

Devanagari script

सीताहरणजं दुःखं न मे सौम्य तथाविधम्।।।।यथा विनाशे गृध्रस्य मत्कृते च परन्तप।

Transliteration

sītāharaṇajaṃ duḥkhaṃ na me saumya tathāvidham |

yathā vināśe gṛdhrasya matkṛte ca parantapa ||

Translation

温和者啊，焚敌者啊：悉多被掳之痛，于我并不如这般刺心——这秃鹫的殒灭，而且还是为我之故。

Word by Word

• sītā-haraṇa-jam: born from Sita’s abduction
• sītā-haraṇa-jam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक) + haraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास: ‘सीतायाः हरणात् जातम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘duḥkham’

• duḥkham: grief
• duḥkham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Negation/निषेध)

• me: for me / my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive) एकवचन (enclitic): ‘of me/my’

• saumya: O gentle one
• saumya: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saumya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• tathā-vidham: of that kind
• tathā-vidham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tathā (अव्यय) + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘तथा एव विधं’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘duḥkham’

• yathā: as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Conjunction/समुच्चय/उपमान): ‘as/like’

• vināśe: at the death/destruction
• vināśe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vināśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• gṛdhrasya: of the vulture (Jatayu)
• gṛdhrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛdhra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• mat-kṛte: for my sake
• mat-kṛte: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + kṛta (कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ‘मम कृते’ = ‘for my sake’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative) एकवचन (idiomatic)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Conjunction): ‘and’

• parantapa: O scorcher of foes
• parantapa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parantapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

Context

O scorcher of enemies, O handsome Lakshmana! the grief I experience due to Jatayu's death on my account is more intense than Sita's abduction.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sītā
• Jaṭāyu (the vulture)

FAQs

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

Kṛtajñatā (gratitude) as dharma: Rāma’s pain intensifies because a benefactor suffered for him, teaching that moral sensitivity to others’ sacrifices is essential.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma compares two griefs—Sītā’s abduction and Jaṭāyu’s death—and expresses that the latter feels more unbearable because it happened on his account.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s deep gratitude and empathy—he values the protector’s sacrifice profoundly.