Valmiki Ramayana 2.64.74: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 74

शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः

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

Devanagari script

चित्तनाशाद्विपद्यन्ते सर्वाण्येन्द्रियाणि मे।क्षीणस्नेहस्य दीपस्य संसक्ता रश्मयो यथा।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.64.74

Transliteration

cittanāśād vipadyante sarvāṇīndriyāṇi me | kṣīṇasnehasya dīpasya saṃsaktā raśmayo yathā ||

Translation

Quand mon esprit s’effondre, tous mes sens défaillent—tels les rayons d’une lampe qui s’éteignent ensemble lorsque l’huile est épuisée.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• citta-nāśāt: from the loss of mind
• citta-nāśāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: citta (प्रातिपदिक) + nāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Pañcamī (5th/पञ्चमी), Ekavacana; ablative of cause; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (cittasya nāśaḥ)

• vipadyante: fail/come to ruin
• vipadyante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi√pad (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana; ātmanepada

• sarvāṇi: all
• sarvāṇi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; qualifies indriyāṇi

• indriyāṇi: sense-organs
• indriyāṇi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• me: my
• me: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• kṣīṇa-snehasya: of a lamp with exhausted oil
• kṣīṇa-snehasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣīṇa (क्षि-धातोः क्त) + sneha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; qualifies dīpasya; कर्मधारयः (kṣīṇaḥ snehaḥ yasya)

• dīpasya: of the lamp
• dīpasya: Upamāna-ṣaṣṭhī (उपमान-षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dīpa (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• saṃsaktāḥ: clinging/attached
• saṃsaktāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃsakta (सञ्ज्-धातोः क्त)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; agrees with raśmayaḥ

• raśmayaḥ: rays
• raśmayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raśmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• yathā: as/like
• yathā: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-vācaka avyaya

Context

With the loss of my mental faculty, all the sense organs are giving way, like the rays of the lamp giving way together when the oil is exhausted.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

It underscores the fragility of embodied life: when inner steadiness (citta) collapses under sorrow, the senses also fail. Dharma here is the recognition of impermanence and the need for inner discipline to withstand suffering.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha is overwhelmed after Rāma’s exile; his grief intensifies into physical and mental collapse.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Tragic honesty and emotional transparency: Daśaratha does not mask his decline; he speaks truthfully about his failing strength.