Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 54

शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः

The Sound-Target Tragedy, the Sage’s Curse, and Dasaratha’s Death

Devanagari script

त्वया तु यदविज्ञानान्निहतो मे सुतश्शुचिः।तेन त्वामभिशप्स्यामि सुदुःखमतिदारुणम्।।।।

Transliteration

tvayā tu yad avijñānān nihato me sutaḥ śuciḥ | tena tvām abhiśapsyāmi suduḥkham atidāruṇam ||

Translation

“Although you killed my pure-hearted son out of ignorance (without intent), for that very reason I shall curse you with a calamity of intense and dreadful sorrow.”

Word by Word

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Kartr-karana (कर्ता-करण/agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन; instrumental singular

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात

• यत्: since
• यत्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: हेतौ अव्ययीभूत (since/because)

• अविज्ञानात्: out of ignorance
• अविज्ञानात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ (नञ्) + विज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; ablative singular ‘from ignorance’

• निहतः: was killed
• निहतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate with सुतः

• मे: my
• मे: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-एकवचन (enclitic); genitive singular

• सुतः: son
• सुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular

• शुचिः: pure-hearted
• शुचिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective of सुतः

• तेन: therefore
• तेन: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचन रूप used adverbially ‘therefore/for that reason’

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular

• अभिशप्स्यामि: I will curse
• अभिशप्स्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-शप् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (भविष्यत्), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; future 1st sg

• सुदुःखम्: very sorrowful
• सुदुःखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: सुतरां दुःखम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object-complement of अभिशप्स्यामि (curse as ‘very grievous’)

• अतिदारुणम्: extremely dreadful
• अतिदारुणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय) + दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: अत्यन्तं दारुणम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; further qualifier of curse

Context

'Though you have killed my pure-hearted son unintentionally, I will pronounce a disastrous and dreadful curse on you.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• ascetic (tāpasa)

FAQs

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

Dharma recognizes that even unintended wrongdoing can carry consequences; moral order responds not only to intention but also to the harm inflicted.

What is the narrative situation?

The ascetic acknowledges the killing was unintentional, yet declares he will curse Daśaratha due to the devastating result.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral discernment paired with severity: the ascetic distinguishes intent (ignorance) from outcome (death) while enforcing consequence.