Valmiki Ramayana 2.64.4: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 4
शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः
The Sound-Target Tragedy, the Sage’s Curse, and Dasaratha’s Death
तत्राहं दुर्बलावन्धौ वृद्धावपरिणायकौ।अपश्यं तस्य पितरौ लूनपक्षाविव द्विजौ।।।।तन्निमित्ताभिरासीनौ कथाभिरपरिश्रमौ।तामाशां मत्कृते हीनावुदासीनावनाथवत्।।।।
tatrāhaṃ durbalāv andhau vṛddhāv apariṇāyakau |
apaśyaṃ tasya pitarau lūnapakṣāv iva dvijau ||2.64.4||
tan-nimittābhir āsīnau kathābhir apariśramau |
tām āśāṃ matkṛte hīnāv udāsīnāv anāthavat ||2.64.5||
সেখানে আমি তার পিতামাতাকে দেখলাম—দুর্বল, অন্ধ, বৃদ্ধ এবং আশ্রয়হীন—ডানা কাটা পাখির মতো। তারা কেবল পুত্রের কথাই বলতে বলতে নিস্তেজ হয়ে বসে ছিল; আমার কারণে সেই আশাভঙ্গ হয়ে অনাথের মতো উদাস হয়ে পড়েছিল।
There I found his weak, blind, old parents. With no supporter, they looked like birds with clipped wings. They sat there helplessly like orphans and passively talking about their son, their only hope that I have deprived them of.
FAQs
It underscores the social and personal dharma of caring for dependent elders; harming the one who supports them creates moral injury and karmic consequence.
Daśaratha recounts encountering the blind, aged parents after accidentally killing their son—revealing the human cost of his mistake.
Moral awareness and remorse in Daśaratha: he recognizes the parents’ helplessness and his culpability in depriving them of hope.
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