Valmiki Ramayana 2.63.29: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 29

दशरथस्य शोकानुचिन्तनं शब्धवेधि-दोषस्मरणं च

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

Devanagari script

प्रविविक्तां नदीं रात्रावुदाहाऽरोहमागतः।इषुणाऽभिहतः केन कस्य वा किं कृतं मया।।2.63.29।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.63.29

Transliteration

praviviktāṃ nadīṃ rātrāv udāhāroham āgataḥ |

iṣuṇā 'bhihataḥ kena kasya vā kiṃ kṛtaṃ mayā || 2.63.29 ||

Translation

“রাত্রিতে জল তুলিবার জন্য আমি এই নির্জন নদীতীরে নামিয়াছিলাম। কে আমাকে তীরে আঘাত করিল? আমি কার কী অপরাধ করিয়াছি?”

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Word by Word

• ṛṣeḥ: of a sage
• ṛṣeḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (emphatic particle)

• nyasta-daṇḍasya: of one who has renounced violence
• nyasta-daṇḍasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nyasta (प्रातिपदिक; ni-√as/√sā? ‘to place’ से क्त) + daṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (karmadhāraya-like determinative: ‘one who has laid down the staff/violence’), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन; ऋषेः इति विशेषणम्

• vane: in the forest
• vane: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन

• vanyena: with forest-produce
• vanyena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vanya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन; साधन/आहाररूपेण

• jīvataḥ: of (him) living
• jīvataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √jīv (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन; ऋषेः इति सम्बन्धः (‘of one living/subsisting’)

• katham: how?
• katham: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रश्नवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• nu: indeed?, pray
• nu: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रश्न/अनुनयार्थक निपात

• śastreṇa: by a weapon
• śastreṇa: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन

• vadhaḥ: killing
• vadhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• mad-vidhasya: of one like me
• mad-vidhasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (प्रातिपदिक; asmad-śabda) + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘like me’), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन; वधः इति सम्बन्धः

• vidhīyate: is perpetrated
• vidhīyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√dhā (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (passive): ‘is done/ordained’

Context

After Rama had left along with his wife the king of Kosala (Dasaratha) recollected his former evil deed and wanted to narrate it to the dark-eyed Kausalya.

Characters & Entities

• river (nadī)
• arrow (iṣu)

FAQs

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

Dharma is fairness and non-injury: punishment or violence without cause violates justice, especially when the victim is blameless.

What is the narrative situation?

The wounded ascetic explains he came only to fetch water and asks why he has been attacked.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Harmlessness and sincerity—he presents his innocent purpose and appeals to truth.