Shloka 2.63.38
दशरथस्य शोकानुचिन्तनं शब्धवेधि-दोषस्मरणं च (Daśaratha’s grief, karmic reflection, and the remembered ‘śabdavedhī’ misdeed)
तं देशमहमागम्य दीनसत्त्वस्सुदुर्मनाः।अपश्यमिषुणा तीरे सरय्वास्तापसं हतम्।।2.63.38।।अवकीर्ण जटाभारं प्रविद्धकलशोदकम्।पांसुशोणितदिग्धाङ्गं शयानं शल्यपीडितम्।।2.63.39।।
taṃ deśam aham āgamya dīnasattvaḥ sudurmanāḥ | apaśyam iṣuṇā tīre sarayvāḥ tāpasaṃ hatam || 2.63.38 || avakīrṇajaṭābhāraṃ praviddhakalaśodakam | pāṃsuśoṇitadigdhāṅgaṃ śayānaṃ śalyapīḍitam || 2.63.39 ||
Reaching that spot, drained of strength and sick at heart, I saw on the bank of the Sarayū an ascetic struck down by my arrow—his matted locks scattered, his water-pot flung away, his limbs smeared with dust and blood, lying pierced and tormented by the shaft.
With dissipated energy and intensely troubled mind, I reached the bank of river Sarayu and there I saw the ascetic lying struck by the arrow and with scattered locks of hair. The water pitcher was thrown away and his body smeared with blood and dust as he lay on the ground.
The verse underscores the dharmic gravity of unintended violence: even accidental harm to the innocent (especially an ascetic) is a profound ethical rupture that demands recognition, remorse, and responsibility.
Daśaratha approaches the source of the voice and discovers the wounded ascetic youth on the Sarayū’s bank, confirming that his shot has struck a blameless person.
Truth-facing courage (satya toward oneself): the king does not avert his eyes; he confronts the reality of harm, which becomes the basis for later confession and consequence.