Valmiki Ramayana 2.64.25 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 25

शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः

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

Devanagari script

सप्तधा तु फलेन्मूर्धा मुनौ तपसि तिष्ठति।ज्ञानाद्विसृजतश्शस्त्रं तादृशे ब्रह्मावादिनि।।।।

Transliteration

saptadhā tu phalen mūrdhā munau tapasi tiṣṭhati |

jñānād visṛjataḥ śastraṃ tādṛśe brahmavādini ||

Translation

لكن رأس من يطلق سلاحاً عن عمد ضد مثل هذا الحكيم - القائم في التقشف، ومعلم البراهمان - سوف ينشق إلى سبعة أجزاء.

Word by Word

• saptadhā: into seven pieces
• saptadhā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sapta + dhā (अव्यय)
• Form: Dvigu-based adverb meaning 'into seven parts' (धावाचक अव्यय)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; contrast/emphasis particle

• phalet: would split
• phalet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √phal (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (optative), Prathama puruṣa, Ekavacana

• mūrdhā: head
• mūrdhā: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• munau: in the case of a sage
• munau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; locative of reference

• tapasi: in austerity
• tapasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Saptamī, Ekavacana; locative of state

• tiṣṭhati: is abiding
• tiṣṭhati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, present), Prathama puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• jñānāt: knowingly
• jñānāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Pañcamī, Ekavacana; ablative of cause/instrumental sense 'knowingly'

• visṛjataḥ: of (one) releasing
• visṛjataḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi√sṛj (धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ present active participle (शतृ); Pumliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; genitive absolute/agent-genitive with 'śastram' (of one who is discharging)

• śastram: weapon
• śastram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; object of 'visṛj' implied

• tādṛśe: such (a one)
• tādṛśe: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tādṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; qualifies 'brahmavādini'

• brahma-vādini: in a brahman-teaching ascetic
• brahma-vādini: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman + vādin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: 'one who speaks/teaches brahman'; Pumliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

Context

'If any one deliberately discharges a weapon upon an ascetic observing austerities or on him who expounds the Vedas, his head will split into seven pieces.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Muni (sage)

FAQs

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

Dharma places ascetics and teachers under special protection; deliberate violence against them is portrayed as spiritually self-destructive.

What is the narrative situation?

The sage intensifies the warning by describing a traditional consequence for knowingly attacking a tapasvin or brahmavādin.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sanctity of learning and austerity—society’s duty to safeguard those dedicated to spiritual discipline.