Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 11

शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः

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

Devanagari script

मुनिमव्यक्तया वाचा तमहं सज्जमानया।हीनव्यञ्जनया प्रेक्ष्य भीतचित्त इवाब्रुवम्।।।।

Transliteration

munim avyaktayā vācā tam ahaṃ sajjamānayā | hīnavyañjanayā prekṣya bhītacitta ivābruvam ||

Translation

Seeing that sage, I spoke in an indistinct voice—stammering, my syllables faltering—like one whose mind is seized by fear.

Word by Word

• मुनिम्: the sage
• मुनिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अव्यक्तया: with indistinct
• अव्यक्तया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषणम् ‘वाचा’

• वाचा: with speech/words
• वाचा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सज्जमानया: with stammering/hesitating
• सज्जमानया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सद्/सज्ज् (धातु) → सज्जमान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्यय (Present participle/शतृ); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषणम् ‘वाचा’

• हीनव्यञ्जनया: with slurred/defective articulation
• हीनव्यञ्जनया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन + व्यञ्जन (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: ‘deficient in syllables’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषणम् ‘वाचा’

• प्रेक्ष्य: having seen
• प्रेक्ष्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया/Gerundial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + ईक्ष् (धातु) → प्रेक्ष्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप् (Absolutive/Gerund); ‘having seen’

• भीतचित्तः: frightened-minded
• भीतचित्तः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीत + चित्त (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् ‘अहम्’

• इव: as if
• इव: Upamana-marker (उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमाव्यय (Comparative particle)

• अब्रुवम्: I said/uttered
• अब्रुवम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past); उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

As I saw him, my heart was filled with terror and I stammered as I spoke in garbled sentences.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• muni (blind sage, Śravaṇa’s father)

FAQs

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

Truthfulness under moral pressure: Daśaratha’s fear shows the weight of wrongdoing, yet dharma demands facing the harmed party and speaking honestly.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha encounters the ascetic parent after the accidental killing and begins to speak, overwhelmed by guilt and fear.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral accountability—despite trembling fear, he approaches and begins disclosure rather than fleeing.