Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 26
दशरथस्य शोकानुचिन्तनं शब्धवेधि-दोषस्मरणं च
Daśaratha’s grief, karmic reflection, and the remembered ‘śabdavedhī’ misdeed
अमुञ्चं निशितं बाणमहमाशीविषोपमम्।तत्र वागुषसि व्यक्ता प्रादुरासीद्वनौकसः।।2.63.26।।हाहेति पततस्तोये बाणाभिहतमर्मणः।।2.63.27।।
amuñcaṃ niśitaṃ bāṇam aham āśīviṣopamam |
tatra vāg uṣasi vyaktā prādurāsīd vanaukasaḥ || 2.63.26 ||
I released that keen arrow, like a venomous serpent; and then, at dawn, the clear voice of a forest-dweller suddenly arose from there.
Then I discharged a sharp shaft like a venomous serpent. In the morning twilight I saw that the shaft had hit the vital part of the body of a forest dweller and his cry of 'Alas', was clearly heard as he fell in the water.
FAQs
Dharma highlights inevitability of consequences: violence released returns as suffering, often revealing the humanity of the unseen target.
After shooting, Daśaratha realizes a person—not an elephant—has been struck, as a human voice is heard.
Moral awakening—recognition that an error has occurred, opening the path to remorse and responsibility.