Valmiki Ramayana 2.64.75 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 75

शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः

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

Devanagari script

अयमात्मभवश्शोको मामनाथमचेतनम्।संसादयति वेगेन यथा कूलं नदीरयः।।।।

Transliteration

ayam ātmabhavaḥ śoko mām anātham acetanaṃ | saṃsādayati vegena yathā kūlaṃ nadīrayaḥ ||

Translation

મારા જ આત્મામાંથી ઉપજેલો આ શોક મને અનાથ અને અચેતન બનાવી, વેગથી ક્ષીણ કરી રહ્યો છે—જેમ નદીનો પ્રવાહ કિનારાને ઝડપથી ઘસી નાખે તેમ।।

Word by Word

• ayam: this
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• ātma-bhavaḥ: self-arisen
• ātma-bhavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + bhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; qualifies śokaḥ; समासः तत्पुरुषः (ātmanā bhavaḥ = self-arisen)

• śokaḥ: sorrow
• śokaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śoka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• anātham: helpless
• anātham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifies mām

• acetanam: insensible
• acetanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: acetana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifies mām

• saṃsādayati: wears down/erodes
• saṃsādayati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam√sad (धातु; causative sense here)
• Form: Laṭ (present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• vegena: with force/rapidly
• vegena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; instrumental of manner

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

• kūlam: bank
• kūlam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• nadī-rayaḥ: the river-current
• nadī-rayaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (प्रातिपदिक) + raya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (nadyāḥ rayaḥ = river-current)

Context

This self-created grief is rapidly destroying me like the bank of a river eroded by its swift current, leaving me helpless and insensible.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

It highlights accountability: Daśaratha names his sorrow as ‘self-born’, implying that inner states and past choices have consequences. Dharma involves owning one’s responsibility rather than shifting blame.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha’s lament continues as he feels his vitality being swept away by grief after consenting to Rāma’s exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-reflection: even in anguish, he recognizes the suffering as arising from his own situation and decisions.