Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 59

शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः

The Sound-Target Tragedy, the Sage’s Curse, and Dasaratha’s Death

Devanagari script

तदेतच्छिन्तयानेन स्मृतं पापं मया स्वयम्।तदा बाल्यात्कृतं देवि शब्दवेध्यनुशिक्षिणा।।।।

Transliteration

tad etac cintayānena smṛtaṁ pāpaṁ mayā svayam | tadā bālyāt kṛtaṁ devi śabdavedhy-anuśikṣiṇā ||

Translation

Reflecting now, O queen, I myself recall that sin—committed then in youthful folly, while I was training in the skill of shooting by sound.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here with एतत् as apposition ‘that very’

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; object-context with स्मृतम् (‘this was remembered’)

• चिन्तयानेन: while reflecting (by reflecting)
• चिन्तयानेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्तय (प्रातिपदिक from √चिन्त्, शतृ/शानच्)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (आत्मनेपदी), तृतीया, एकवचन; instrumental ‘by me while reflecting’

• स्मृतम्: was remembered
• स्मृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate ‘was remembered’

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; in apposition to एतत् (‘this sin’)

• मया: by me
• मया: Kartr-karana (कर्ता-करण/agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन; instrumental singular (agent)

• स्वयम्: myself
• स्वयम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: आत्मवाचक अव्यय (reflexive adverb)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (then)

• बाल्यात्: from boyhood (immaturity)
• बाल्यात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; ablative singular ‘from boyhood/immaturity’

• कृतम्: committed
• कृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate ‘was done/committed’

• देवि: O देवी
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• शब्दवेध्यनुशिक्षिणा: by one trained in sound-target shooting
• शब्दवेध्यनुशिक्षिणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक) + वेध्य (प्रातिपदिक; √विध्/व्यध् + यत्) + अनुशिक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: शब्देन वेध्यः (शब्दवेध्य) इति तत्पुरुष; ततः अनुशिक्षिन् ‘trained in’; तृतीया, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; instrumental describing ‘by one trained in sound-targeting’ (i.e., by me as such)

Context

While reflecting about it now, O Devi (Kausalya)! I recollect this sin committed by me unintentionally, with childish pranks while practising the art of hitting a target by its sound.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kausalyā

FAQs

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

Carelessness in skill (especially with weapons) is adharma; dharma demands restraint, right judgment, and protection of life.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha, facing the loss of Rāma, connects his present grief to a remembered youthful act of accidental killing.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Satya and moral self-scrutiny: he does not excuse himself, but names the act as pāpa (wrong) and owns it.