Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 15
शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः
The Sound-Target Tragedy, the Sage’s Curse, and Dasaratha’s Death
ततश्श्रुतो मया शब्दो जले कुम्भस्य पूर्यतः।द्विपोऽयमिति मत्वाऽयं बाणेनाभिहतो मया।।।।
tataḥ śruto mayā śabdo jale kumbhasya pūryataḥ | dvipo 'yam iti matvā 'yaṃ bāṇenābhihato mayā ||
मग मला पाण्यात घडा भरल्याचा शब्द ऐकू आला. ‘हा हत्ती आहे’ असे समजून मी त्याला बाणाने घायाळ केले॥
There I heard the sound of a pot being filled with water and mistaking it to be an elephant's, shot an arrow.
FAQs
Dharma demands discernment before using force; acting on assumption (sound mistaken for elephant) makes violence ethically culpable even if unintended.
Daśaratha explains the precise error: he shot at a sound, believing it to be an elephant.
Truthfulness in confession—he admits the mistaken judgment that caused the tragedy.