Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 35

शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः

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

Devanagari script

कन्दमूलफलं हृत्वा को मां प्रियमिवातिथिम्।भोजयिष्यत्यकर्मण्यमप्रग्रहमनायकम्।।।।

Transliteration

kandamūlaphalaṃ hṛtvā ko māṃ priyam ivātithim | bhojayiṣyaty akarmaṇyam apragraham anāyakam ||

Translation

誰が芋や根や果実を携えて来て、愛しい客のように私を養ってくれよう。働くこともできず、必要なものも得られず、導き手もないこの私を。

Word by Word

• कन्दमूलफलम्: tubers, roots, and fruits
• कन्दमूलफलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्द + मूल + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (कन्दश्च मूलं च फलं च)

• हृत्वा: having brought/taken
• हृत्वा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund)

• कः: who
• कः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रियम्: dear
• प्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अतिथिम् इति विशेषण

• इव: like
• इव: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• अतिथिम्: a guest
• अतिथिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भोजयिष्यति: will feed
• भोजयिष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भुज् (धातु, causative/णिजन्त)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिजन्त

• अकर्मण्यम्: incapable of action
• अकर्मण्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अकर्मण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; माम् इति विशेषण

• अप्रग्रहम्: without means/support
• अप्रग्रहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्रग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; माम् इति विशेषण

• अनायकम्: without a guide/protector
• अनायकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; माम् इति विशेषण

Context

'I am incapable of doing any work, I am unable to procure anything (to meet my needs. now). I have no guide (to help me walk my way). Who will feed me like a welcome guest with tubers and fruits?

Characters & Entities

• ascetic father

FAQs

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

Sevā as dharma: feeding and supporting dependents is a moral duty; the father’s helplessness underscores why harming a caregiver-son creates cascading suffering.

What is the narrative situation?

The father laments practical survival in the hermitage—food gathering and daily support—formerly provided by the son.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hospitality and care expressed through provision of food—Śravaṇa’s service is likened to honoring a guest.