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 ॥२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.64.2

Transliteration

tad ajñānān mahat pāpaṃ kṛtvāhaṃ saṅkulendriyaḥ |

ekas tv acintayaṃ buddhyā kathaṃ nu sukṛtaṃ bhavet ||2||

Translation

Maine jaan ke nahi, par bada paap kar diya. Mere dimaag mein sab gadbad ho gayi tha. Main akela baitha soch raha tha ki ab kya karoon? Koi aisa kaam kaise karoon jo sahi ho?

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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.