Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 41
दशरथस्य शोकानुचिन्तनं शब्धवेधि-दोषस्मरणं च
Daśaratha’s grief, karmic reflection, and the remembered ‘śabdavedhī’ misdeed
किं तवापकृतं राजन्वने निवसता मया।जिहीर्षुरम्भो गुर्वुर्थं यदहं ताडितस्त्वया।।2.63.41।।
kiṃ tavāpakṛtaṃ rājan vane nivasatā mayā | jihīrṣur ambho gurv-arthaṃ yad ahaṃ tāḍitas tvayā || 2.63.41 ||
हे राजन्, वनात राहणाऱ्या माझ्याकडून तुझा काय अपराध झाला? मी तर गुरूजनांसाठी पाणी आणावयास जात होतो; तरीही तू मला आघात केलास।
After the banishment of Rama the king spent the sixth night, recalling the evil deed done by him in the past.
FAQs
It asserts the king’s dharma of protection: royal force must not strike the innocent. The verse also elevates satya—plain truth about one’s harmless intent—as a moral witness against unjust violence.
Śravaṇa addresses the archer as “king,” stating he was merely collecting water for his parents when he was shot.
Innocent service and truthfulness: Śravaṇa’s act is motivated by care for elders, and he speaks without deceit even in suffering.