Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 59
शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः
The Sound-Target Tragedy, the Sage’s Curse, and Dasaratha’s Death
तदेतच्छिन्तयानेन स्मृतं पापं मया स्वयम्।तदा बाल्यात्कृतं देवि शब्दवेध्यनुशिक्षिणा।।।।
tad etac cintayānena smṛtaṁ pāpaṁ mayā svayam | tadā bālyāt kṛtaṁ devi śabdavedhy-anuśikṣiṇā ||
हे देवी, आता विचार करता करता मला स्वतःच ते पाप आठवले, जे तेव्हा बाल्यावस्थेत शब्दवेधाची शिक्षा घेत असताना माझ्याकडून घडले होते।
While reflecting about it now, O Devi (Kausalya)! I recollect this sin committed by me unintentionally, with childish pranks while practising the art of hitting a target by its sound.
FAQs
Carelessness in skill (especially with weapons) is adharma; dharma demands restraint, right judgment, and protection of life.
Daśaratha, facing the loss of Rāma, connects his present grief to a remembered youthful act of accidental killing.
Satya and moral self-scrutiny: he does not excuse himself, but names the act as pāpa (wrong) and owns it.