Previous Verse
Next Verse

Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 25

शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः

The Sound-Target Tragedy, the Sage’s Curse, and Dasaratha’s Death

सप्तधा तु फलेन्मूर्धा मुनौ तपसि तिष्ठति।ज्ञानाद्विसृजतश्शस्त्रं तादृशे ब्रह्मावादिनि।।।।

saptadhā tu phalen mūrdhā munau tapasi tiṣṭhati |

jñānād visṛjataḥ śastraṃ tādṛśe brahmavādini ||

परंतु तपश्चर्येत स्थित अशा मुनिवर—ब्रह्मवादिनिवर—जो जाणूनबुजून शस्त्र सोडतो, त्याचे मस्तक सात भागांत फुटते।

saptadhāinto seven pieces
saptadhā:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootsapta + dhā (अव्यय)
FormDvigu-based adverb meaning 'into seven parts' (धावाचक अव्यय)
tubut/indeed
tu:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottu (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; contrast/emphasis particle
phaletwould split
phalet:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√phal (धातु)
FormVidhi-liṅ (optative), Prathama puruṣa, Ekavacana
mūrdhāhead
mūrdhā:
Kartṛ (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootmūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana
munauin the case of a sage
munau:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootmuni (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPumliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; locative of reference
tapasiin austerity
tapasi:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Roottapas (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka, Saptamī, Ekavacana; locative of state
tiṣṭhatiis abiding
tiṣṭhati:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√sthā (धातु)
FormLaṭ (लट्, present), Prathama puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada
jñānātknowingly
jñānāt:
Hetu (हेतु)
TypeNoun
Rootjñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka, Pañcamī, Ekavacana; ablative of cause/instrumental sense 'knowingly'
visṛjataḥof (one) releasing
visṛjataḥ:
Kartṛ (कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Rootvi√sṛj (धातु)
FormŚatṛ present active participle (शतृ); Pumliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; genitive absolute/agent-genitive with 'śastram' (of one who is discharging)
śastramweapon
śastram:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootśastra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; object of 'visṛj' implied
tādṛśesuch (a one)
tādṛśe:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Roottādṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPumliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; qualifies 'brahmavādini'
brahma-vādiniin a brahman-teaching ascetic
brahma-vādini:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootbrahman + vādin (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTatpuruṣa: 'one who speaks/teaches brahman'; Pumliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

'If any one deliberately discharges a weapon upon an ascetic observing austerities or on him who expounds the Vedas, his head will split into seven pieces.

D
Daśaratha
M
Muni (sage)

FAQs

Dharma places ascetics and teachers under special protection; deliberate violence against them is portrayed as spiritually self-destructive.

The sage intensifies the warning by describing a traditional consequence for knowingly attacking a tapasvin or brahmavādin.

Sanctity of learning and austerity—society’s duty to safeguard those dedicated to spiritual discipline.