Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 31
शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः
The Sound-Target Tragedy, the Sage’s Curse, and Dasaratha’s Death
नाभिवादयसे माद्य न च माऽमभिभाषसे।किं नु शेषे तु भूमौ त्वं वत्स किं कुपितो ह्यसि।।।।
nābhivādayase mādya na ca mām abhibhāṣase | kiṃ nu śeṣe tu bhūmau tvaṃ vatsa kiṃ kupito hy asi ||
“My child, why do you not greet me today, and why do you not speak to me? Why do you lie here on the ground—are you angry with us?”
'O child! why are you not greeting us today nor speaking? Why are you lying on the ground? Are you angry with us?
FAQs
The verse highlights the expectation of respectful conduct within family life—greeting and speaking to parents—showing how dharma is felt most painfully when normal duties are severed by death.
The father, unaware in his grief-stricken denial, speaks to his dead son as if he were merely silent or upset.
Filial propriety is implied as the norm (greeting elders), while the father’s love and dependence on the son’s care is foregrounded.