Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 5
शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः
The Sound-Target Tragedy, the Sage’s Curse, and Dasaratha’s Death
तत्राहं दुर्बलावन्धौ वृद्धावपरिणायकौ। अपश्यं तस्य पितरौ लूनपक्षाविव द्विजौ।।2.64.4।।तन्निमित्ताभिरासीनौ कथाभिरपरिश्रमौ।तामाशां मत्कृते हीनावुदासीनावनाथवत्।।2.64.5।।
tatrāhaṃ durbalāv andhau vṛddhāv apariṇāyakau | apaśyaṃ tasya pitarau lūnapakṣāv iva dvijau ||
an-nimittābhir āsīnau kathābhir apariśramau | tām āśāṃ mat-kṛte hīnāv udāsīnāv anāthavat ||
ಅಲ್ಲಿ ನಾನು ಅವನ ಪಿತಾಮಾತೃಗಳನ್ನು ಕಂಡೆನು—ದುರ್ಬಲರು, ಅಂಧರು, ವೃದ್ಧರು, ರಕ್ಷಕವಿಲ್ಲದವರು—ಕತ್ತರಿಸಿದ ರೆಕ್ಕೆಗಳ ಪಕ್ಷಿಗಳಂತೆ. ಅವರು ಅಲಸವಾಗಿ ಕುಳಿತು ಅವನ ವಿಷಯದ ಮಾತುಗಳನ್ನೇ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು; ನನ್ನ ಕೃತ್ಯದಿಂದ ಅವರ ಆಶೆ ಕಳೆದು, ಅನಾಥರಂತೆ ನಿರಾಶ್ರಿತರಾಗಿ ಉದಾಸೀನರಾಗಿದ್ದರು.
There I found his weak, blind, old parents. With no supporter, they looked like birds with clipped wings. They sat there helplessly like orphans and passively talking about their son, their only hope that I have deprived them of.
FAQs
Dharma requires awareness of the vulnerable: harming the dependent (even unintentionally) creates grave moral consequence and demands truthful acknowledgment.
Daśaratha describes seeing the boy’s aged, blind parents—now helpless and hope-stricken because their only support is gone.
Satya through confession and moral clarity: Daśaratha openly recognizes the suffering caused by his own act.