Valmiki Ramayana 2.63.11 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 11

दशरथस्य शोकानुचिन्तनं शब्धवेधि-दोषस्मरणं च

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

Devanagari script

लब्धशब्देन कौसल्ये कुमारेण धनुष्मता।कुमारश्शब्दवेधीति मया पापमिदं कृतम्।।2.63.11।।

Transliteration

labdhaśabdena kauśalye kumāreṇa dhanuṣmatā |

kumāraḥ śabdavedhī ’ti mayā pāpam idaṃ kṛtam ||

Translation

O Kausalyā, als ich ein junger Bogenschütze war, kundig darin, nach dem Klang zu treffen, beging ich diese Sünde, stolz auf den Namen „der nach dem Klang durchbohrt“.

Word by Word

• लब्धशब्देन: with (my) acquired skill of sound
• लब्धशब्देन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लब्ध-शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (लब्धः शब्दः येन); पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; धनुष्मता इत्यस्य विशेषण

• कौसल्ये: O Kausalya
• कौसल्ये: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौसल्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• कुमारेण: in (my) youth
• कुमारेण: Karana (करण/Instrumental circumstance)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; (मया इत्यस्य कालावस्था/सहवृत्ति)

• धनुष्मता: as one with a bow
• धनुष्मता: Karana (करण/Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुष्मत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘as an archer’

• कुमारः: (as) a youth
• कुमारः: Pratijna/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (इति-उद्धरणे)

• शब्दवेधी: a sound-shooter (one who aims by sound)
• शब्दवेधी: Pratijna/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द-वेधिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (शब्देन वेधति); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कुमारः इत्यस्य विशेषण

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणार्थक-अव्यय (quotative)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; तृतीया, एकवचन

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; पापम् इति विशेषण

• कृतम्: was done
• कृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative verbal)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘done’ (कर्मणि भावः)

Context

O Kausalya! in my youth I was a great archer who could hit the target by its sound. As such I committed this sin.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kausalyā

FAQs

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

Dharma requires moral restraint over mere skill: extraordinary ability, when mixed with pride or carelessness, can lead to adharma and lifelong consequence.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha begins confessing an earlier wrongdoing connected to his famed ability to shoot based on sound, setting up the karmic background of his present suffering.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Confessional honesty—admitting sin without concealment, a step toward ethical clarity even if consequences remain.