Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 14
शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः
The Sound-Target Tragedy, the Sage’s Curse, and Dasaratha’s Death
भगवंश्चापहस्तोऽहं सरयूतीरमागतः।जिघांसुश्श्वापदं कञ्चिन्निपाने चाऽगतं गजम्।।।।
bhagavaṃś cāpahasto 'haṃ sarayūtīram āgataḥ | jighāṃsuḥ śvāpadaṃ kañcin nipāne cāgataṃ gajam ||
ಭಗವನ್, ಧನುಸ್ಸನ್ನು ಕೈಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹಿಡಿದು ನಾನು ಸರಯೂ ನದೀತೀರಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋದೆನು; ನೀರು ಕುಡಿಯುವ ಸ್ಥಳಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದಿದ್ದ ಒಂದು ಗಜವನ್ನು—ಒಂದು ಕಾಡು ಮೃಗವೆಂದು ಭಾವಿಸಿ—ಕೊಲ್ಲಬೇಕೆಂಬ ಉದ್ದೇಶದಿಂದ.
Wishing to hunt a wild elephant coming down to the water hole for drinking, I went to the bank of Sarayu, bow in hand, O revered sage!
FAQs
It raises the ethical tension between kṣatriya pursuits (hunting/weapon-bearing) and the duty to avoid careless harm—dharma requires vigilance so power does not become violence.
Daśaratha begins recounting the circumstances of the accident: he went hunting by the Sarayū with his bow.
Candor in recounting facts—he narrates the chain of intent and setting without concealment.