Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 3

शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः

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

Devanagari script

ततस्तं घटमादाय पूर्णं परमवारिणा।आश्रमं तमहं प्राप्य यथाऽख्यातपथं गतः।।।।

Transliteration

tatastaṃ ghaṭam ādāya pūrṇaṃ paramavāriṇā | āśramaṃ tam ahaṃ prāpya yathākhyātapathaṃ gataḥ ||

Translation

ನಂತರ ಪರಮ ಪವಿತ್ರ ನೀರಿನಿಂದ ತುಂಬಿದ ಆ ಘಟವನ್ನು ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಂಡು, ನಾನು ಆ ಆಶ್ರಮವನ್ನು ತಲುಪಿ, ತಿಳಿಸಲ್ಪಟ್ಟ ಮಾರ್ಗದಂತೆ ನಿಖರವಾಗಿ ನಡೆದೆನು.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अपादानार्थक (then/thereafter)

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘that’ (refers to pot)

• घटम्: pot
• घटम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghaṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√dā (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having taken’

• पूर्णम्: filled
• पूर्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण to ‘ghaṭam’

• परम-वारिणा: with very pure water
• परम-वारिणा: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + vāri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: परमं वारि = ‘very pure water’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण/साधन

• आश्रमम्: hermitage
• आश्रमम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गन्तव्य (destination)

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण to ‘āśramam’ (‘that’)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्राप्य: having reached
• प्राप्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√āp (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having reached’

• यथा-आख्यात-पथम्: the path as directed
• यथा-आख्यात-पथम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + ākhyāta (कृदन्त) + patha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: आख्यातः पन्थाः = ‘the path that was told’; with यथा ‘as’; पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गमनस्य कर्म

• गतः: went
• गतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे ‘went’

Context

Thereupon, I took both of them all by myself to that spot and made the grievingascetics touch the body of their son.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• āśrama (hermitage)

FAQs

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

Accountability in action: Daśaratha narrates events precisely as they occurred, supporting truthfulness (satya) and moral responsibility for consequences.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha continues recounting how he followed directions to the hermitage after the tragic incident, moving toward the blind ascetics’ dwelling.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthful narration and acceptance of responsibility—he reports his actions without embellishment, a step toward repentance.