Shloka 2.64.4

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

Devanagari script

तत्राहं दुर्बलावन्धौ वृद्धावपरिणायकौ।अपश्यं तस्य पितरौ लूनपक्षाविव द्विजौ।।।।तन्निमित्ताभिरासीनौ कथाभिरपरिश्रमौ।तामाशां मत्कृते हीनावुदासीनावनाथवत्।।।।

Transliteration

tatrāhaṃ durbalāv andhau vṛddhāv apariṇāyakau |

apaśyaṃ tasya pitarau lūnapakṣāv iva dvijau ||2.64.4||

tan-nimittābhir āsīnau kathābhir apariśramau |

tām āśāṃ matkṛte hīnāv udāsīnāv anāthavat ||2.64.5||

Translation

There I saw his parents—frail, blind, aged, and without any protector—like birds whose wings had been cut. Sitting listlessly, speaking only of their son, they were like orphans, deprived through me of the hope on which they depended.

Context

There I found his weak, blind, old parents. With no supporter, they looked like birds with clipped wings. They sat there helplessly like orphans and passively talking about their son, their only hope that I have deprived them of.

Characters & Entities

• Śravaṇa-kumāra (implied as 'his son')

FAQs

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

It underscores the social and personal dharma of caring for dependent elders; harming the one who supports them creates moral injury and karmic consequence.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha recounts encountering the blind, aged parents after accidentally killing their son—revealing the human cost of his mistake.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral awareness and remorse in Daśaratha: he recognizes the parents’ helplessness and his culpability in depriving them of hope.