Valmiki Ramayana 2.63.35 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 35

दशरथस्य शोकानुचिन्तनं शब्धवेधि-दोषस्मरणं च

Daśaratha’s grief, karmic reflection, and the remembered ‘śabdavedhī’ misdeed

Devanagari script

वृद्धै च मतापितरावहं चैकेषुणा हता।केन स्मनिहता स्सर्वे सुबालेनाकृतात्मना।।2.63.35।।

Transliteration

vṛddhau ca mātāpitarāv ahaṃ caikeṣuṇā hatāḥ | kena sma nihatāḥ sarve subālenākṛtātmanā || 2.63.35 ||

Translation

لقد قُتلت أنا ووالداي المسنان، وكأننا جميعًا، بسهم واحد. مَن الذي دمرنا؟ فتى يبدو صالحًا ولكن عقله غير ناضج وطائش.

Word by Word

• वृद्धैः: with the old (ones)
• वृद्धैः: Sahakāraka (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/सह) बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• माता: mother
• माता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; Nominative singular

• पितरौ: (my) two parents/father-and-mother (dual)
• पितरौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन; Nominative dual

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा एकवचन; Pronoun nominative singular

• च: also/and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एकेषुणा: with a single arrow
• एकेषुणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + इषु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (एकः इषुः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• हताः: killed
• हताः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, भूतकर्मणि/भूतकालिक-निष्पन्न), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा बहुवचन; past passive participle ‘killed’

• केन: by whom
• केन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया एकवचन; Instrumental singular ‘by whom’

• स्म: indeed/then (particle)
• स्म: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), भूतार्थ/स्मरणार्थ-प्रयोग

• निहताः: slain
• निहताः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + हन् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा बहुवचन; past passive participle ‘slain’

• सर्वे: all (of us)
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• सुबालेन: by a good boy
• सुबालेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (सु-विशेषण + बाल); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• अकृतात्मना: by one of uncontrolled/ill-disposed mind
• अकृतात्मना: Hetu/Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अकृतात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (अकृतः आत्मा यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन; Instrumental singular, qualifying ‘सुबालेन’

Context

'My aged parents along with me are killed by a single arrow. Who is that maliciousknave who has slain us?

Characters & Entities

• Śravaṇa
• mother
• father
• arrow

FAQs

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

The verse stresses accountability: even a ‘well-born’ or ‘good’ person can commit adharma if action is driven by rashness and lack of discernment. Dharma requires restraint and certainty before harming.

What is the narrative situation?

Śravaṇa, still unaware of the archer’s identity, questions who has shot him, highlighting the disproportionate harm caused by a single mistaken act.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral discernment (viveka) by contrast: the verse implies that true goodness requires disciplined intention, not merely youth or reputation.