Valmiki Ramayana 2.64.2 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 2

शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः

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

Devanagari script

तदज्ञानान्महत्पापं कृत्वाहं सङ्कुलेन्द्रियः।एकस्त्वचिन्तयं बुध्या कथं नु सुकृतं भवेत्।।।।

Transliteration

tad ajñānān mahat pāpaṃ kṛtvāhaṃ saṅkulendriyaḥ |

ekas tv acintayaṃ buddhyā kathaṃ nu sukṛtaṃ bhavet ||

Translation

Par ignorance, j’ai commis ce grand péché, et mes sens furent bouleversés ; seul, je méditai en mon esprit : «Comment pourrait-il y avoir une action juste, une expiation, pour cela ?»

Word by Word

• तत्: that (act)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र कर्म-निर्देश (that act)

• अज्ञानात्: from ignorance
• अज्ञानात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ajñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (cause: ‘from/through ignorance’)

• महत्: great
• महत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण to ‘pāpam’

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘having done’

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सङ्कुल-इन्द्रियः: with agitated senses
• सङ्कुल-इन्द्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṅkula (प्रातिपदिक) + indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: सङ्कुलानि इन्द्रियाणि यस्य (agitated/confused senses); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण to ‘aham’

• एकः: alone
• एकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण to ‘aham’ (‘alone’)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेष/विरोधार्थक

• अचिन्तयम्: I reflected
• अचिन्तयम्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √cint (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; ‘I reflected’

• बुध्या: with (my) intellect
• बुध्या: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; करण (means: ‘with/by mind/intellect’)

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्नार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (interrogative adverb: ‘how’)

• नु: indeed (question particle)
• नु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्न/अनुनय-निपात (interrogative particle)

• सुकृतम्: a good deed; merit
• सुकृतम्: Karta (कर्ता/Notional subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su-kṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: सु + कृत = ‘well-done/merit’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ/विषय-रूपेण ‘bhavet’

• भवेत्: might be
• भवेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘might be/should become’

Context

Having committed the sin unwittingly, I was greatly agitated. I reflected in my mind asto how to atone for this great sin.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Dharma here is moral accountability: even when harm is unintended, one must seek a righteous response—atonement, truthfulness, and corrective action.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha recalls the moment after accidentally killing a youth, when he is shaken and begins searching for how to make amends.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Conscience and responsibility: the king’s immediate remorse and desire to act rightly despite the act being accidental.