Valmiki Ramayana 2.64.38: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 38

शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः

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

Addressed to King DaśarathaSetting: वन (आश्रम-परिसर)Places named: यमक्षयम् (यमलोक)वियोग-परिणाम-कल्पना (यमलोक-गमन)

Devanagari script

उभावपि च शोकार्तावनाथौ कृपणौ वने ।

क्षिप्रमेव गमिष्यावस्त्वया हीनौ यमक्षयम् ॥३८॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.64.38

Transliteration

ubhāv api ca śokārtāv anāthau kṛpaṇau vane |

kṣipram eva gamiṣyāvas tvayā hīnau yamakṣayam ||38||

Translation

നീ വിട്ടുപോയാൽ, വനത്തിൽ ശോകാർത്തരായി ആശ്രയമില്ലാതെ ദീനരായി ഞങ്ങൾ ഇരുവരും; നിന്നില്ലാതെ വേഗത്തിൽ യമലോകത്തിലേക്കു പോകും.

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Word by Word

• उभाव्: both (of us)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• अपि: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/सम्भावना-अव्यय (also/even)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय
• Role: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)

• शोकार्तौ: afflicted with grief
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोक + आर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (शोकेन आर्तौ)
• Role: Karta-pravṛtti (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• अनाथौ: without support
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन
• Role: Karta-pravṛtti (कर्तृ-विशेषण)

• कृपणौ: wretched
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृपण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन
• Role: Karta-pravṛtti (कर्तृ-विशेषण)

• वने: in the forest
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षिप्रम् (अव्यय/नपुंसक-प्रातिपदिक used adverbially)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: quickly)
• Role: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• एव: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय
• Role: Avadharana (अवधारण)

• गमिष्यावः: we two shall go
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• त्वया: by you
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया, एकवचन
• Role: Hetu (हेतु/Instrumental cause)

• हीनौ: deprived (of you)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन (प्रातिपदिक; क्त from √हा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय; उभाव् इति विशेषण
• Role: Karta-pravṛtti (कर्तृ-विशेषण)

• यमक्षयम्: Yama's abode
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम + क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (यमस्य क्षयः/स्थानम्)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• उभावपि (उभाव् + अपि)
• शोकार्तावनाथौ (शोकार्तौ + अनाथौ)
• गमिष्यावस्त्वया (गमिष्यावः + त्वया)

Context

'Deserted by you and without any support in the forest, afflicted with grief and feeling miserable, both of us also will assuredly go to Yama's abode, quickly.

The teaching

Duties in tension

• पुत्रधर्म (पालन) बनाम अकाल-मृत्यु/हिंसा-परिणाम
• वृद्ध-आश्रय बनाम कर्मफल-स्वीकार

Ethical theme

Care for dependents

How it resolves

Lamentation without resolution

For your practice

करुणा-विकास; माता-पिता के प्रति कृतज्ञता; अहिंसा-सावधानी

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Bhayanaka (fear)

Mood

अनाथता, विलाप, निराशा

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Ethics
• Karma
• Filial duty
• Compassion

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Yama

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the dharmic responsibility of supporting dependent parents; abandoning that duty is portrayed as leading to suffering and the collapse of their worldly support.

What is the narrative situation?

Śravaṇa-kumāra, mortally wounded by Daśaratha’s arrow, laments that his blind parents will be left helpless in the forest and may soon die from grief.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Śravaṇa’s devotion to his parents (pitṛ-śuśrūṣā) is emphasized by his anguish at their impending abandonment rather than concern for himself.