Shloka 2.64.23

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

Devanagari script

यद्येतदशुभं कर्म न त्वं मे कथयेस्स्वयम्।फलेन्मूर्धा स्म ते राजन् सद्य श्शतसहस्रधा।।।।

Transliteration

yady etad aśubhaṃ karma na tvaṃ me kathayes svayam |

phalen mūrdhā sma te rājan sadyaḥ śatasahasradhā ||

Translation

O King, if you had not yourself disclosed to me this inauspicious deed, your head would have shattered at once into a hundred thousand pieces.

Context

'O king!, hadn't you yourself broken this inauspicious news, your head would have split into a hundred thousand pieces right now.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Ṛṣi (sage)

FAQs

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

Satya has protective power: truthful confession aligns one with dharma and mitigates the spiritual shock that follows grave wrongdoing.

What is the narrative situation?

The sage responds to Daśaratha’s confession, stressing the peril of such a deed and the significance of immediate truthfulness.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthfulness (satya) and moral courage—speaking the truth even when it condemns oneself.