Valmiki Ramayana 2.63.37 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 37

दशरथस्य शोकानुचिन्तनं शब्धवेधि-दोषस्मरणं च

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

Devanagari script

तस्याहं करुणं श्रुत्वा निशि लालवतो बहु।सम्भ्रान्त श्शोकवेगेन भृशमासं विचेतनः।।2.63.37।।

Transliteration

tasyāhaṃ karuṇaṃ śrutvā niśi lālavato bahu | sambhrāntaḥ śokavegena bhṛśam āsaṃ vicetanaḥ || 2.63.37 ||

Translation

Als ich sein klägliches Wehklagen in der Nacht hörte, wurde ich von der Woge des Kummers in Schrecken versetzt und blieb völlig verwirrt, als wäre ich besinnungslos.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: षष्ठी एकवचन; Genitive singular

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: प्रथमा एकवचन; Nominative singular

• करुणम्: piteous (speech)
• करुणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: करुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative singular (object of ‘श्रुत्वा’ understood: ‘करुणं (वचनम्)’ )

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (gerund), ‘having heard’

• निशि: at night
• निशि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन; Locative singular

• लालवतः: lamenting
• लालवतः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण-भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लालवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन; Genitive singular used adverbially ‘in a lamenting manner’

• बहु: much/greatly
• बहु: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• सम्भ्रान्तः: bewildered/agitated
• सम्भ्रान्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + भ्रम् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; Nominative singular

• शोकवेगेन: by the rush of grief
• शोकवेगेन: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोक + वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (शोकस्य वेगः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• भृशम्: exceedingly
• भृशम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भृशम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• आसम्: I remained
• आसम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (अनद्यतन-भूत), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; Imperfect ‘I was/remained’

• विचेतनः: senseless/unconscious
• विचेतनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + चेतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; Nominative singular

Context

Having heard his pathetic lamentations at night, I was extremely frightened by the force of grief and stood bewildered.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• night
• grief (śoka)

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates that adharma produces inner turmoil: moral error is not only social harm but also a disruption of one’s own mental and ethical equilibrium.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha recounts his immediate reaction after hearing the wounded youth’s cries in the dark forest.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral sensitivity: the king is not indifferent to suffering; his shock indicates recognition of wrongdoing.