Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 16
शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः
The Sound-Target Tragedy, the Sage’s Curse, and Dasaratha’s Death
गत्वा नद्यास्तत स्तीरमपश्यमिषुणा हृदि।विनिर्भिन्नं गतप्राणं शयानं भुवि तापसम्।।।।
gatvā nadyās tataḥ tīram apaśyam iṣuṇā hṛdi | vinirbhinnam gataprāṇaṃ śayānaṃ bhuvi tāpasam ||
नंतर नदीच्या तीरावर जाऊन मी पाहिले—हृदयात बाण घुसलेला, प्राण निघून जात असलेला, भूमीवर पडलेला एक तापस॥
Thereafter I reached the river bank and beheld an ascetic with an arrow pierced in his chest. He was lying on the ground, his life ebbing away.
FAQs
The sanctity of innocent life and ascetic virtue: dharma is violated when reckless action harms the harmless, especially one devoted to austerity and service.
Daśaratha approaches the spot and discovers the victim is not an animal but a human ascetic.
Recognition and remorse—the moment of realizing the true nature of the harm.