Shloka 2.64.26
शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः (The Sound-Target Tragedy, the Sage’s Curse, and Dasaratha’s Death)
अज्ञानाद्धिकृतं यस्मादिदं तेनैव जवसि।अपि ह्यद्य कुलं न स्यादिक्ष्वाकूणां कुतो भवान्।।।।
ajñānād dhi kṛtaṃ yasmād idaṃ tenaiva jīvasi |
api hy adya kulaṃ na syād ikṣvākūṇāṃ kuto bhavān ||
Because this was done in ignorance, you still live. Had it been otherwise, even the Ikṣvāku line would not remain today—what then of you?
'Since you have done this unwittingly you are still alive. If it had been otherwise, your Ikshvaku race itself would have been exterminated, what to speak of you!
Dharma differentiates between intentional and unintentional harm; intention affects culpability, though the harm still demands moral reckoning.
The sage acknowledges the act was accidental and explains that this alone prevents immediate catastrophic retribution.
Discernment and fairness in judgment—recognizing ignorance as mitigating, without denying the tragedy.