Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 67

शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः

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

Devanagari script

अतस्तु किं दुःखतरं यदहं जीवितक्षये।न हि पश्यामि धर्मज्ञं रामं सत्यपराक्रमम्।।।।

Transliteration

atas tu kiṃ duḥkhataraṃ yad ahaṃ jīvitakṣaye | na hi paśyāmi dharmajñaṃ rāmaṃ satyaparākramam ||

Translation

What sorrow could be greater than this—that at the end of my life I do not behold Rama, the knower of dharma, whose strength is grounded in truth?

Word by Word

• अतः: therefore/then
• अतः: हेतु/निगमन (Inference marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतु/निगमन-अव्यय (therefore/then)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अवधारण-अव्यय

• किम्: what?
• किम्: प्रश्न (Interrogative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (interrogative)

• दुःखतरम्: more sorrowful
• दुःखतरम्: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःख + तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तुलनात्मक-विशेषण (comparative); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• यत्: that (fact) that
• यत्: सम्बन्ध (Relativizer)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बन्धक-अव्यय (relative particle: that/namely)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जीवितक्षये: at the end of life
• जीवितक्षये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवित + क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जीवितस्य क्षयः); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय-अव्यय (indeed)

• पश्यामि: I see
• पश्यामि: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• धर्मज्ञम्: knower of dharma
• धर्मज्ञम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (धर्मं जानाति इति); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; रामम् इति विशेषणम्

• रामम्: Rāma
• रामम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सत्यपराक्रमम्: whose valor is true/steadfast in truth
• सत्यपराक्रमम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य + पराक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (सत्यः पराक्रमो यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; रामम् इति विशेषणम्

Context

Can there be a greater sorrow than that at the last moment of my life I am unable tosee my righteous and truthful son, Rama?

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Rāma
• Kausalyā
• Dharma
• Satya

FAQs

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

Dharma and satya are presented as Rama’s defining qualities; the verse treats righteousness and truth as the highest strength and the proper measure of a person.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha laments that death is imminent, yet he cannot see Rama—exiled due to palace intrigue and the king’s prior boons.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s steadfast truth and dharmic discernment (dharmajñatā), portrayed as a moral power (parākrama) rather than mere physical might.