Valmiki Ramayana 2.64.49: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 49

शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः

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

Devanagari script

आबभाषे च वृद्धौ तौ सह शक्रेण तापसः।आश्वास्यच मुहूर्तं तु पितरौ वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.64.49

Transliteration

ābabhāṣe ca vṛddhau tau saha śakreṇa tāpasaḥ | āśvāsya ca muhūrtaṃ tu pitarau vākyam abravīt ||

Translation

In Indras Gegenwart sprach der Asket zu den beiden betagten Eltern; nachdem er sie kurz getröstet hatte, richtete er Worte an sie.

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Word by Word

• ābabhāṣe: spoke
• ābabhāṣe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√bhāṣ (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular, Ātmanepada

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya-dyotaka (समुच्चय-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चयार्थ-निपात)

• vṛddhau: to the two aged ones
• vṛddhau: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Dual; addressed/target of speech

• tau: those two
• tau: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Dual; apposition to 'vṛddhau'

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

• śakreṇa: with Indra
• śakreṇa: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular; with 'saha'

• tāpasaḥ: the ascetic
• tāpasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāpasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; subject of 'ābabhāṣe'

• āśvāsya: having consoled
• āśvāsya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√śvas (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय in -ya form)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya-dyotaka (समुच्चय-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चयार्थ-निपात)

• muhūrtam: for a moment
• muhūrtam: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muhūrta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative, Singular; adverbial accusative of duration

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Avadhāraṇa/Viśeṣa (अवधारण/विशेष)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Adversative/emphatic particle (निपात)

• pitarau: to the two parents
• pitarau: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Dual; object of 'abravīt' (to the parents)

• vākyam: words, speech
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; object of 'abravīt'

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

Context

The ascetic in the company of Indra consoling the aged couple for a brief moment said:

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• ascetic (tāpasa)
• Śakra (Indra)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes compassionate speech—offering solace and guidance to the suffering, even amid tragedy.

What is the narrative situation?

Indra is present; the ascetic speaks to the grieving elderly couple and consoles them before speaking further.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Karunā (compassion) expressed through measured, supportive speech.