Shloka 2.64.15

शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः (The Sound-Target Tragedy, the Sage’s Curse, and Dasaratha’s Death)

Devanagari script

ततश्श्रुतो मया शब्दो जले कुम्भस्य पूर्यतः।द्विपोऽयमिति मत्वाऽयं बाणेनाभिहतो मया।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ śruto mayā śabdo jale kumbhasya pūryataḥ | dvipo 'yam iti matvā 'yaṃ bāṇenābhihato mayā ||

Translation

Then I heard the sound of a water-pot filling in the river; thinking, ‘This is an elephant,’ I struck him with an arrow.

Context

There I heard the sound of a pot being filled with water and mistaking it to be an elephant's, shot an arrow.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• arrow (bāṇa)
• pot (kumbha)
• river water (jala)
• elephant (dvipa, mistaken identity)

FAQs

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

Dharma demands discernment before using force; acting on assumption (sound mistaken for elephant) makes violence ethically culpable even if unintended.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha explains the precise error: he shot at a sound, believing it to be an elephant.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthfulness in confession—he admits the mistaken judgment that caused the tragedy.