Shloka 2.63.31

दशरथस्य शोकानुचिन्तनं शब्धवेधि-दोषस्मरणं च (Daśaratha’s grief, karmic reflection, and the remembered ‘śabdavedhī’ misdeed)

Devanagari script

जटाभारधरस्यैव वल्कलाजिनवाससः।को वधेन ममर्थी स्यात्किंवाऽस्यापकृतं मया।।2.63.31।।

Transliteration

jaṭā-bhāra-dharasyaiva valkalājinavāsasaḥ |

ko vadhena mamārthī syāt kiṃ vā 'syāpakṛtaṃ mayā || 2.63.31 ||

Translation

Who would desire my death—me who bears the burden of matted hair and wears bark-cloth and antelope-skin? What harm have I done to him?

Context

'Who wants to kill me who lives like an ascetic with matted hair and wearing bark or the skin of an antelope? What harm have I done to him?

Characters & Entities

• ascetic attire (jaṭā, valkala, ajina)

FAQs

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

Dharma asks for proportionality and cause: harming a harmless person violates justice and compassion.

What is the narrative situation?

The wounded ascetic points to his renunciant appearance as evidence of harmlessness and asks who could want him dead.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Simplicity and harmless living—his ascetic markers symbolize withdrawal from worldly aggression.