Valmiki Ramayana 2.64.34 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 34

शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः

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

Devanagari script

को मां सन्द्यामुपास्यैव स्नात्वा हुतहुताशनः।श्लाघयिष्यत्युपासीनः पुत्र शोकभयार्दितम्।।।।

Transliteration

ko māṃ sandhyām upāsyaiva snātvā hutahutāśanaḥ | ślāghayiṣyaty upāsīnaḥ putra śokabhayārditam ||

Translation

O Sohn, von Kummer und Furcht gepeinigt—wer wird sich nun meiner annehmen, nachdem er gebadet, die Sandhyā verehrt und dem heiligen Feuer Opfer dargebracht hat, dicht an meiner Seite sitzend?

Word by Word

• कः: who
• कः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सन्द्याम्: sandhya worship (twilight rite)
• सन्द्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उपास्य: having worshipped
• उपास्य: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-√आस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphasis)

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund)

• हुतहुताशनः: (one who has) offered oblations into the fire
• हुतहुताशनः: Karta-pravṛtti (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हुत + हुताशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (hutaḥ hutāśanaḥ: ‘fire to which oblations are offered’)

• श्लाघयिष्यति: will comfort/praise/console
• श्लाघयिष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्लाघ् (धातु, causative/णिजन्त)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative)

• उपासीनः: sitting near (in attendance)
• उपासीनः: Karta-pravṛtti (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-√आस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘seated near/attending’

• पुत्र: O son
• पुत्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• शोकभयार्दितम्: tormented by grief and fear
• शोकभयार्दितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोक + भय + आर्दित (प्रातिपदिक; क्त from √अर्द्/√अर्दय्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (शोकभयेन आर्दितम्)

Context

'O son! I am tortured with sorrow and fear. Who will serve me from now on after the ablution and the morning worship of Sandhya, followed by oblations to the sacrificial fire?

Characters & Entities

• ascetic father
• sacred fire (hutāśana)

FAQs

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

Interdependence in dharmic life: ritual observance (sandhyā, agnihotra-like offerings) is paired with caregiving; dharma includes service to elders, not only rites.

What is the narrative situation?

The father foresees the collapse of his daily religious life and personal care without the son’s assistance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Service (sevā) and steadfast ritual discipline—virtues expected in a son devoted to ascetic parents.