Valmiki Ramayana 2.63.40: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 40
दशरथस्य शोकानुचिन्तनं शब्धवेधि-दोषस्मरणं च
Daśaratha’s grief, karmic reflection, and the remembered ‘śabdavedhī’ misdeed
स मामुद्वीक्ष्य नेत्राभ्यां त्रस्तमस्वस्थचेतसम् ।
इत्युवाच ततः क्रूरं दिधक्षन्निव तेजसा ॥४०॥
sa mām udvīkṣya netrābhyāṃ trastam asvasthacetasaṃ |
ity uvāca tataḥ krūraṃ didhakṣann iva tejasā ||40||
तो मला—भयभीत व अस्वस्थचित्त—दोन्ही नेत्रांनी पाहून, जणू आपल्या तेजाने मला जाळून टाकील असा, मग म्हणाला: “क्रूर!”
I was mentally stricken and frightened. He looked up as if buring me with the energy of his eyes. Then he uttered the words 'A cruel act!'
FAQs
Dharma includes truthful moral speech: the wounded ascetic names the act as cruel, affirming that power and weapons must be governed by discernment and restraint.
Daśaratha comes near; Śravaṇa looks at him and condemns the deed as cruel.
Moral clarity: even in pain, Śravaṇa speaks truthfully and directly about wrongdoing.
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