Valmiki Ramayana 2.64.13 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 13

शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः

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

Devanagari script

क्षत्रियोऽहं दशरथो नाहं पुत्रो महात्मनः।सज्जनावमतं दुःखमिदं प्राप्तं स्वकर्मजम्।।।।

Transliteration

kṣatriyo 'haṃ daśaratho nāhaṃ putro mahātmanaḥ | sajjanāvamataṃ duḥkham idaṃ prāptaṃ svakarmajam ||

Translation

أنا دَشَرَثا، من طبقة الكشاتريا؛ ولستُ ابنَ ذلك العظيمِ النفس. هذا الحزنُ المذمومُ في نظرِ الأخيار قد نزل بي ثمرةً لعملي أنا.

Word by Word

• क्षत्रियः: a kshatriya
• क्षत्रियः: Pradhana-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• दशरथः: Dasaratha
• दशरथः: Pradhana-predicative (विधेय/Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधाव्यय (Negation)

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

• पुत्रः: son
• पुत्रः: Pradhana-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled (sage)
• महात्मनः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, एकवचन

• सज्जनावमतम्: condemned by the good
• सज्जनावमतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सज्जन + अवमत (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (agentive/locative sense: ‘disapproved by the virtuous’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् ‘दुःखम्’

• दुःखम्: sorrow
• दुःखम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् ‘दुःखम्’

• प्राप्तम्: has befallen
• प्राप्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया as participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु) → प्राप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘has befallen/has come’ (दुःखम् इदम्)

• स्वकर्मजम्: born of my own deed
• स्वकर्मजम्: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व + कर्म + ज (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative: ‘born of one’s own action’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् ‘दुःखम्’

Context

O magnanimous sage! I am a kshatriya known as Dasaratha. I am not your son. A pathetic incident has been caused by my own action, condemnable by the virtuous.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• kṣatriya (social duty)

FAQs

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

Acceptance of karmic responsibility: dharma is not only status (kṣatriya) but also owning the consequences of one’s actions, especially when they violate the expectations of the virtuous.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha identifies himself and frames the tragedy as a moral failing arising from his own act.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Honest self-incrimination and humility—he does not hide behind rank and acknowledges blame.