Shloka 2.64.56

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

Devanagari script

अज्ञानात्तु हतो यस्मात्क्षत्रियेण त्वया मुनिः।तस्मात्त्वां नाविशत्याशु ब्रह्महत्या नराधिप।।।।

Transliteration

ajñānāt tu hato yasmāt kṣatriyeṇa tvayā muniḥ | tasmāt tvāṁ nāviśaty āśu brahmahatyā narādhipa ||

Translation

Since, through ignorance, you—a kṣatriya—killed the sage, O lord of men, the sin of brahmin-slaying will not seize you at once.

Context

'Since you, O lord of men, you have killed an ascetic unaware, as kshatriya the sin of slaying a brahmin will not accrue to you immediately.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• muni (ascetic/sage)
• brahmahatyā

FAQs

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

Intention and knowledge (ajñāna vs. jāna) affect culpability, yet harm still calls forth moral consequence; dharma weighs both act and awareness.

What is the narrative situation?

After his son is accidentally killed, the ascetic addresses Daśaratha and explains why the full stain of brahmin-slaying is not said to strike him at once.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral discernment and fairness: the ascetic distinguishes ignorance from deliberate wrongdoing while still holding the king accountable to consequence.