Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 44
शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः
The Sound-Target Tragedy, the Sage’s Curse, and Dasaratha’s Death
या गति स्सर्वसाधूनां स्वाध्यायात्तपसाच या।या भूमिदस्याहिऽताग्नेरेकपत्नी व्रतस्य च।।।।गोसहस्रप्रदातृ़णां या या गुरुभृतामपि।देहन्यासकृतां या च तां गतिं गच्छ पुत्रक।।।।
yā gatiḥ sarvasādhūnāṃ svādhyāyāt tapasā ca yā |
yā bhūmidasya āhitāgneḥ ekapatnī-vratasya ca ||2.64.44||
gosahasra-pradātṝṇāṃ yā yā gurubhṛtām api |
deha-nyāsa-kṛtāṃ yā ca tāṃ gatiṃ gaccha putraka ||2.64.45||
愛しき子よ、すべての善き人々が得るその境地へ往け。ヴェーダの学習と苦行によって、土地を布施し、聖なる火を守り、一人の妻に貞節を尽くす者によって、千頭の牛を施す者によって、師と長老に仕え支える者によって、また自ら進んで身を捨てる者によって得られるその境地へ。
'You, my son, shall attain that supreme state obtained by those who are virtuous, who study the Vedas and practise asceticism.You shall attain the state merited by those bestowers of land as charity, who kindle the sacred fires, who are monoganists, who offer a thousand cows in charity, who nurture the venerable and who willingly lay down their bodies.
FAQs
Dharma is presented as a multi-path ideal: learning (svādhyāya), self-discipline (tapas), generosity (dāna), fidelity (vrata), reverence to teachers/elders (guru-bhṛti), and renunciation—all lead to elevated spiritual reward.
The grieving father blesses his son by enumerating dharmic practices and declaring that Śravaṇa will reach the same highest destiny as those who excel in them.
Reverence for dharmic life: the father’s blessing frames virtue as concrete practices—study, austerity, charity, fidelity, and service.