Valmiki Ramayana 2.64.59 — 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

Al reflexionar ahora, oh reina, yo mismo recuerdo aquel pecado, cometido entonces por mi necia juventud, cuando me ejercitaba en el arte de disparar guiado por el sonido.

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.