Valmiki Ramayana 2.64.29 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 29

शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः

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

Devanagari script

अथाहमेकस्तं देशं नीत्वा तौ भृशदुःखितौ।अस्पर्शयमहं पुत्रं तं मुनिं सह भार्यया।।।।

Transliteration

athāham ekas taṃ deśaṃ nītvā tau bhṛśaduḥkhitau | asparśayam ahaṃ putraṃ taṃ muniṃ saha bhāryayā ||

Translation

Dann führte ich allein jene beiden, die von Kummer überwältigt waren, genau zu jener Stelle und ließ den Asketen und seine Frau den Körper ihres Sohnes berühren.

Word by Word

• atha: then, thereupon
• atha: Kriyā-krama-dyotaka (क्रम-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Discourse particle (अनन्तरार्थ-निपात)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative, Singular

• ekaḥ: alone
• ekaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifying 'aham'

• tam: that
• tam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifying 'deśam'

• deśam: place
• deśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; object of 'nītvā'

• nītvā: having led/taken
• nītvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nī (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा)

• tau: those two
• tau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Dual; object of 'nītvā' (those two)

• bhṛśaduḥkhitau: deeply grieved
• bhṛśaduḥkhitau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhṛśa-duḥkhita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Dual; qualifying 'tau'; bhṛśa (excessively) + duḥkhita (grieved)

• asparśayam: I made (them) touch
• asparśayam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √spṛś (धातु) causative √spṛś→sparśay (णिच्)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular, Parasmaipada; causative

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative, Singular (repeated for emphasis)

• putram: son
• putram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; object of 'asparśayam'

• tam: that
• tam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifying 'munim'

• munim: sage
• munim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; object of 'asparśayam' (second object)

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Prepositional indeclinable (सह-योगे)

• bhāryayā: with (his) wife
• bhāryayā: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular; with 'saha'

Context

Holding the pot filled with clean water I reached the hermitage following the path as directed.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Compassionate truth-telling: even in guilt, one must face the harmed parties and acknowledge reality directly, enabling rightful mourning and moral reckoning.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha guides the blind ascetic couple to where their son lies and helps them confirm the loss by touch.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humaneness amid wrongdoing—Daśaratha does not abandon the grieving parents but assists them, reflecting remorse and basic compassion.