Valmiki Ramayana 2.64.78 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 78

शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः

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

Devanagari script

इति रामस्य मातुश्च सुमित्रायाश्च सन्निधौ।राजा दशरथ श्शोचञ्जीवितान्तमुपागमत्।।।।

Transliteration

iti rāmasya mātuś ca sumitrāyāś ca sannidhau | rājā daśarathaḥ śocañ jīvitāntam upāgamat ||

Translation

Demikianlah, di hadapan ibu Rāma dan juga Sumitrā, Raja Daśaratha meratap, lalu sampai ke penghujung hayatnya.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Vākyānta-nipāta (वाक्यान्त-निपात, quotative/thus)

• rāmasya: of Rama
• rāmasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• mātuḥ: of (his) mother
• mātuḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta

• sumitrāyāḥ: of Sumitra
• sumitrāyāḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sumitrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta

• sannidhau: in the presence
• sannidhau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sannidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana; locative

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• daśarathaḥ: Dasaratha
• daśarathaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; apposition to rājā

• śocan: lamenting
• śocan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śuc (धातु)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (शतृ/śatṛ present participle), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agrees with rājā

• jīvita-antam: the end of life
• jīvita-antam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīvita (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (jīvitasya antaḥ)

• upāgamat: reached
• upāgamat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa√gam (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्, aorist), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

Context

King Dasaratha, thus crying in distress in the presence of Rama's mother and Sumitra reached the end of his life.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kausalyā (Rāma’s mother)
• Sumitrā
• Rāma

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

It presents the karmic and moral cost of broken equilibrium in royal duty: a king’s personal anguish becomes a public turning point, reminding that rulers’ choices reverberate through dharma and social order.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator states plainly that Daśaratha dies while grieving, with Kausalyā and Sumitrā present.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The queens’ steadfast presence at a moment of collapse reflects loyalty and composure amid catastrophe.