Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 13
शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः
The Sound-Target Tragedy, the Sage’s Curse, and Dasaratha’s Death
क्षत्रियोऽहं दशरथो नाहं पुत्रो महात्मनः।सज्जनावमतं दुःखमिदं प्राप्तं स्वकर्मजम्।।।।
kṣatriyo 'haṃ daśaratho nāhaṃ putro mahātmanaḥ | sajjanāvamataṃ duḥkham idaṃ prāptaṃ svakarmajam ||
मी क्षत्रिय दशरथ आहे; त्या महात्म्याचा पुत्र नाही. सज्जनांच्या दृष्टीने निंद्य असे हे दुःख मला माझ्याच कर्माच्या फळाने प्राप्त झाले आहे॥
O magnanimous sage! I am a kshatriya known as Dasaratha. I am not your son. A pathetic incident has been caused by my own action, condemnable by the virtuous.
FAQs
Acceptance of karmic responsibility: dharma is not only status (kṣatriya) but also owning the consequences of one’s actions, especially when they violate the expectations of the virtuous.
Daśaratha identifies himself and frames the tragedy as a moral failing arising from his own act.
Honest self-incrimination and humility—he does not hide behind rank and acknowledges blame.