Shloka 2.64.17

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

Devanagari script

भगवच्छशब्दमालक्ष्य मया गजजिघांसुना।विसृप्टोऽम्भसि नाराचस्तेन ते निहतस्सुतः।।।।

Transliteration

bhagavacchaśabdam ālakṣya mayā gajajighāṃsunā | visṛṣṭo 'mbhasi nārācas tena te nihataḥ sutaḥ ||

Translation

O venerable one, aiming at that sound in the water—desiring to kill an elephant—I released a sharp arrow; by that, your son was struck down.

Context

O venerable one! I released an arrow towards the water aiming at the sound intending to kill an elephant but it hit your son.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• arrow (nārāca)
• water (ambhas)
• Śravaṇa (the son)
• elephant (gaja, intended target)

FAQs

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

Full disclosure (satya) to the injured party: dharma requires naming the act, intent, and consequence without euphemism, enabling just moral reckoning.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha explicitly states that his arrow—shot at a sound—killed the sage’s son.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Accountability—he directly attributes the death to his own released arrow.