Valmiki Ramayana 2.63.42 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 42

दशरथस्य शोकानुचिन्तनं शब्धवेधि-दोषस्मरणं च

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

Devanagari script

एकेन खलु बाणेन मर्मण्यभिहते मयि।द्वावन्धौ निहतौ वृद्धौ माता जनयिता च मे।।2.63.42।।

Transliteration

ekena khalu bāṇena marmaṇy abhihate mayi |

dvāv andhau nihatau vṛddhau mātā janayitā ca me ||2.63.42||

Translation

بسهمٍ واحدٍ أصابني في مقتل، لقد قتلتَ حقّاً والديَّ الشيخين الأعمَيَين أيضاً: أمي وأبي.

Word by Word

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन; Nominative dual

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• दुर्बलौ: weak
• दुर्बलौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन; Nominative dual qualifying ‘तौ’

• अन्धौ: blind
• अन्धौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन; Nominative dual qualifying ‘तौ’

• मत्प्रतीक्षौ: waiting for me
• मत्प्रतीक्षौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत् + प्रतीक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (माम् प्रतीक्षेते इति/मत्-प्रतीक्ष); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन; Nominative dual qualifying ‘तौ’

• पिपासितौ: thirsty
• पिपासितौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिपासित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन; Nominative dual qualifying ‘तौ’

• चिरम्: for a long time
• चिरम्: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिरम् (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• आशाकृताम्: caused by expectation
• आशाकृताम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आशा + कृत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (आशया कृता); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative singular qualifying ‘तृष्णाम्’

• तृष्णाम्: thirst
• तृष्णाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृष्णा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative singular

• कष्टाम्: painful
• कष्टाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative singular qualifying ‘तृष्णाम्’

• सन्धारयिष्यतः: will endure
• सन्धारयिष्यतः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + धृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (भविष्यत्), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; Future ‘will sustain/endure’

Context

'By striking at the vital part of my body with one arrow, you have killed both my aged and blind mother and father too.

Characters & Entities

• Śravaṇa
• Daśaratha
• Śravaṇa’s mother
• Śravaṇa’s father

FAQs

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

It highlights how harming one dependent person can indirectly destroy those who rely on him; Dharma requires careful restraint, especially for rulers whose actions carry wide consequences.

What is the narrative situation?

Śravaṇa, struck by Daśaratha’s arrow, explains that his death also dooms his blind, elderly parents who depend on him for survival.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Śravaṇa’s filial devotion is underscored by his immediate concern for his parents even while dying.