Shloka 2.64.45

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

Devanagari script

या गति स्सर्वसाधूनां स्वाध्यायात्तपसाच या।या भूमिदस्याहिऽताग्नेरेकपत्नी व्रतस्य च।।2.64.44।।गोसहस्रप्रदातृ़णां या या गुरुभृतामपि।देहन्यासकृतां या च तां गतिं गच्छ पुत्रक।।2.64.45।।

Transliteration

na hi tv asmin kule jāto gacchaty akuśalāṃ gatim |

sa tu yāsyati yena tvaṃ nihato mama bāndhavaḥ ||2.64.46||

Translation

For one born in this lineage does not go to an inauspicious state; but the one by whom you were slain—my kinsman—he will go to that evil destiny.

Context

'You, my son, shall attain that supreme state obtained by those who are virtuous, who study the Vedas and practise asceticism.You shall attain the state merited by those bestowers of land as charity, who kindle the sacred fires, who are monoganists, who offer a thousand cows in charity, who nurture the venerable and who willingly lay down their bodies.

Characters & Entities

• Kula (lineage, concept)
• Daśaratha (implied as the killer)

FAQs

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

It asserts karmic moral accounting: innocence is protected by dharma, while wrongful killing leads the perpetrator toward an inauspicious destiny.

What is the narrative situation?

The father distinguishes the son’s blameless fate from the killer’s consequence, setting up the logic for the curse that will later afflict Daśaratha.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral discernment: even in grief, the father separates the innocent from the culpable, aligning outcome with ethical responsibility.