Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 68

शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः

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

Devanagari script

तस्यादर्शनजश्शोकस्सुतस्याप्रतिकर्मणः।उच्छोषयति मे प्राणान्वारिस्तोकमिवातपः।।।।

Transliteration

tasyādarśanajaḥ śokaḥ sutasyāpratikarmaṇaḥ | ucchoṣayati me prāṇān vāristokam ivātapaḥ ||

Translation

その比類なき業をなす子を見られぬ悲しみが、わたしの命の息をさえ枯らしてゆく。まるで炎天が小さな水たまりを干上がらせるように。

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him/that
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे षष्ठी-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Genitive singular: "of him/that")

• अदर्शनजः: born from non-appearance (caused by not seeing)
• अदर्शनजः: विशेषण (of शोकः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अदर्शन + ज (प्रातिपदिक; √जन् (धातु) से निष्पन्न)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Nominative singular masculine); समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—अदर्शनस्य जातः

• शोकः: grief
• शोकः: कर्ता (Agent/subject of उच्छोषयति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Nominative singular masculine)

• सुतस्य: of the son
• सुतस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation; with अप्रतिकर्मणः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Genitive singular)

• अप्रतिकर्मणः: of unparalleled deeds
• अप्रतिकर्मणः: विशेषण (of सुतस्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + प्रतिकर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Genitive singular masculine); नञ्-समास/उपसर्ग-निषेधः: प्रतिकर्म न विद्यते यस्य (unmatched/unparalleled in deeds)

• उच्छोषयति: dries up / causes to wither
• उच्छोषयति: क्रिया (verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत् + √शुष् (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम् (Present indicative, 3rd person singular); णिजन्त-प्रयोगः (causative): "causes to dry up"

• मे: my
• मे: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation; with प्राणान्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Genitive singular: "my/of me")

• प्राणान्: life-breaths / vital airs
• प्राणान्: कर्म (Object of उच्छोषयति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम् (Accusative plural masculine)

• वारिस्तोकम्: a small quantity of water
• वारिस्तोकम्: उपमान (Object within simile; compared item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारि + स्तोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Accusative singular neuter); समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—वारिणः स्तोकम् (a little of water)

• इव: like
• इव: उपमा-सूचक (Simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक-अव्ययम् (indeclinable particle expressing simile: "like/as")

• आतपः: heat (sun-heat)
• आतपः: उपमान (Standard of comparison; subject of implied drying)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आतप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Nominative singular masculine)

Context

My grief in the absence of Rama of peerless deeds is drying up my life as heat dries up small pools of water.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Rāma
• Kausalyā

FAQs

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

It illustrates how adharma in governance and family decisions can ripple into suffering; separation from the dharmic person becomes spiritually and physically ruinous.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha describes how Rama’s absence has become fatal to him, using a vivid natural simile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s excellence in action (“unmatched deeds”) is highlighted, implying his life is a sustaining moral presence for the kingdom and family.