Valmiki Ramayana 2.64.7 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 7

शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः

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

Devanagari script

पदशब्दं तु मे श्रुत्वा मुनिर्वाक्यमभाषत।किं चिरायसि मे पुत्र पानीयं क्षिप्रमानय।।।।

Transliteration

padaśabdaṃ tu me śrutvā munir vākyam abhāṣata | kiṃ cirāyasi me putra pānīyaṃ kṣipram ānaya ||

Translation

Als der Weise den Klang meiner Schritte vernahm, sprach er: „Mein Sohn, warum zögerst du so lange? Bring schnell Wasser herbei.“

Word by Word

• यत्-निमित्तम्: for whatever reason
• यत्-निमित्तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of implied reason)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम) + nimitta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: यत् निमित्तम् = ‘for whatever reason’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण to ‘krīḍitam’ (‘this’)

• तात: dear child
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• सलिले: in the water
• सलिले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: salila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• क्रीडितम्: played
• क्रीडितम्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate in passive sense)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √krīḍ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘played/sported’

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया, एकवचन; कर्तृकरणे (agent in passive)

• उत्कण्ठिता: anxious
• उत्कण्ठिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: utkaṇṭhita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण to ‘mātā’ (‘anxious/longing’)

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘your’

• माता: mother
• माता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इयम्: this (she)
• इयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम, ‘this (she)’

• प्रविश: enter
• प्रविश: Kriyā (क्रिया/Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√viś (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘enter’

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly
• क्षिप्रम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kṣipram (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शीघ्रार्थक

• आश्रमम्: hermitage
• आश्रमम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गन्तव्य

Context

Hearing the sound of my footsteps, the sage said 'O son! why have you delayed? Bring me some water quickly'.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kausalyā
• Sage (muni)
• Son (Śravaṇa—implied by the known episode)

FAQs

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

It points to filial service as dharma: the son’s duty to promptly serve elders (here, bringing water) is treated as a sacred obligation.

What is the narrative situation?

Within Daśaratha’s final lament, he recalls the earlier tragedy involving the ascetic family—setting up the karmic background for his present suffering.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The son’s obedience and service-mindedness are foregrounded as exemplary conduct.