Valmiki Ramayana 2.64.54: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 54

शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः

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

Addressed to King DaśarathaSetting: वन-प्रदेश (तापस-आश्रम-समीप/जलाशय-समीप)

Devanagari script

त्वया तु यदविज्ञानान्निहतो मे सुतश्शुचिः ।

तेन त्वामभिशप्स्यामि सुदुःखमतिदारुणम् ॥५४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.64.54

Transliteration

tvayā tu yad avijñānān nihato me sutaḥ śuciḥ |

tena tvām abhiśapsyāmi suduḥkham atidāruṇam ||54||

Translation

तूने जान के नहीं, गलती से मेरा बेटा मारा, जो बहुत अच्छा था। इसलिए मैं तुझे श्राप देता हूँ। तुझे बहुत बड़ा दुख मिलेगा, बहुत बुरा लगेगा।

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Word by Word

• त्वया: by you
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन; instrumental singular
• Role: Kartr-karana (कर्ता-करण/agent in passive)

• तु: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात
• Role: Sambandha/Avyaya (अव्यय)

• यत्: since
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: हेतौ अव्ययीभूत (since/because)
• Role: Hetu (हेतु)

• अविज्ञानात्: out of ignorance
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ (नञ्) + विज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; ablative singular ‘from ignorance’
• Role: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)

• निहतः: was killed
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate with सुतः
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• मे: my
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-एकवचन (enclitic); genitive singular
• Role: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)

• सुतः: son
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• शुचिः: pure-hearted
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective of सुतः
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)

• तेन: therefore
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचन रूप used adverbially ‘therefore/for that reason’
• Role: Hetu (हेतु)

• त्वाम्: you
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• अभिशप्स्यामि: I will curse
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-शप् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (भविष्यत्), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; future 1st sg
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• सुदुःखम्: very sorrowful
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: सुतरां दुःखम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object-complement of अभिशप्स्यामि (curse as ‘very grievous’)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• अतिदारुणम्: extremely dreadful
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय) + दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: अत्यन्तं दारुणम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; further qualifier of curse
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

Sandhi Notes

• यदविज्ञानात्→यत् अविज्ञानात्
• अविज्ञानान्निहतः→अविज्ञानात् निहतः
• त्वामभिशप्स्यामि→त्वाम् अभिशप्स्यामि

Context

'Though you have killed my pure-hearted son unintentionally, I will pronounce a disastrous and dreadful curse on you.

The teaching

Duties in tension

• क्षमा/करुणा बनाम न्याय/प्रतिफल

Ethical theme

कर्मफल/वाक्सत्य

How it resolves

Curse as karmic balancing and moral warning

Mood and themes

Rasa

Raudra (fury), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Ominous, judicial, searing

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Intention vs consequence
• Curse (śāpa)

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• ascetic (tāpasa)

FAQs

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

Dharma recognizes that even unintended wrongdoing can carry consequences; moral order responds not only to intention but also to the harm inflicted.

What is the narrative situation?

The ascetic acknowledges the killing was unintentional, yet declares he will curse Daśaratha due to the devastating result.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral discernment paired with severity: the ascetic distinguishes intent (ignorance) from outcome (death) while enforcing consequence.