Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 16

शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः

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

Devanagari script

गत्वा नद्यास्तत स्तीरमपश्यमिषुणा हृदि।विनिर्भिन्नं गतप्राणं शयानं भुवि तापसम्।।।।

Transliteration

gatvā nadyās tataḥ tīram apaśyam iṣuṇā hṛdi | vinirbhinnam gataprāṇaṃ śayānaṃ bhuvi tāpasam ||

Translation

それから川辺へ行くと、地に横たわる苦行者が見えた。胸は矢に貫かれ、命の息は消え入りつつあった。

Word by Word

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund); ‘having gone’

• नद्याः: of the river
• नद्याः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, एकवचन

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Adverb of sequence)

• तीरम्: bank
• तीरम्: Karma (कर्म/Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; गत्यर्थे कर्म (destination)

• अपश्यम्: I saw
• अपश्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past); उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इषुणा: by an arrow
• इषुणा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इषु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया, एकवचन

• हृदि: in the chest/heart
• हृदि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद्/हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी, एकवचन

• विनिर्भिन्नम्: pierced through
• विनिर्भिन्नम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + निर् + भिद् (धातु) → विनिर्भिन्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् ‘तापसम्’

• गतप्राणम्: lifeless / with life departing
• गतप्राणम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत + प्राण (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: कर्मधारय (descriptive: ‘life-breath gone’); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् ‘तापसम्’

• शयानम्: lying
• शयानम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शी (धातु) → शयान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शानच् (Present participle, Ātmanepada); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् ‘तापसम्’

• भुवि: on the ground
• भुवि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक: भूमि/भुवि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी, एकवचन

• तापसम्: an ascetic
• तापसम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तापस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

Context

Thereafter I reached the river bank and beheld an ascetic with an arrow pierced in his chest. He was lying on the ground, his life ebbing away.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• riverbank
• arrow (iṣu/bāṇa)
• ascetic (tāpasa)
• Śravaṇa (implicit as the ascetic)

FAQs

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

The sanctity of innocent life and ascetic virtue: dharma is violated when reckless action harms the harmless, especially one devoted to austerity and service.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha approaches the spot and discovers the victim is not an animal but a human ascetic.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Recognition and remorse—the moment of realizing the true nature of the harm.