Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 40
शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः
The Sound-Target Tragedy, the Sage’s Curse, and Dasaratha’s Death
दातुमर्हति धर्मात्मा लोकपालो महायशाः।ईदृशस्य ममाक्षय्या मेकामभयदक्षिणाम्।।।।
dātum arhati dharmātmā lokapālo mahāyaśāḥ |
īdṛśasya mamākṣayyāṃ ekām abhaya-dakṣiṇām ||2.64.40||
その法に生きる者、名高き世界の守護者（ヤマ）は、我がごとき者にただ一つ尽きぬ賜物を与えるべきである――恐れからの護りを。
'That lord of justice, who is highly renowned, righteous and the guardian of the worlds will grant me one unfailing boon of protection from fear.
FAQs
The verse frames divine justice as dharmic governance: Yama, as guardian and judge, dispenses outcomes (boons/protections) consistent with righteousness.
Śravaṇa speaks of Yama’s authority and imagines receiving a protective boon in the afterlife, emphasizing the moral order overseeing life and death.
Faith in dharmic order: even amid tragedy, the speaker trusts that righteous governance exists beyond human error.