Valmiki Ramayana 2.63.40: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 40

दशरथस्य शोकानुचिन्तनं शब्धवेधि-दोषस्मरणं च

Daśaratha’s grief, karmic reflection, and the remembered ‘śabdavedhī’ misdeed

Devanagari script

स मामुद्वीक्ष्य नेत्राभ्यां त्रस्तमस्वस्थचेतसम्।इत्युवाच ततः क्रूरं दिधक्षन्निव तेजसा।।2.63.40।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.63.40

Transliteration

sa mām udvīkṣya netrābhyāṃ trastam asvasthacetasaṃ | ity uvāca tataḥ krūraṃ didhakṣann iva tejasā || 2.63.40 ||

Translation

ସେ ଦୁଇ ନୟନରେ ମୋତେ ଉପରକୁ ଚାହିଁ, ଭୟଭୀତ ଓ ଅସ୍ଥିରଚିତ୍ତ ମୋତେ ନିଜ ତେଜରେ ଯେପରି ଦଗ୍ଧ କରିଦେବାକୁ ଚାହୁଁଥିଲେ, ସେପରି ଦୃଷ୍ଟି ଦେଇ ପରେ କହିଲେ: “କ୍ରୂର!”

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Word by Word

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative singular used interrogatively

• तव: to you/your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: षष्ठी एकवचन; Genitive singular

• अपकृतम्: harm (done)
• अपकृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप + कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘harm done’

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचन; Vocative singular

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन; Locative singular

• निवसता: by (me) dwelling
• निवसता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + वस् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (शतृ/वर्तमान कृदन्त), पुंलिङ्ग तृतीया एकवचन; Instrumental singular ‘by me residing’

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: तृतीया एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• जिहीर्षुः: wishing to take
• जिहीर्षुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (सन्-प्रत्यय desiderative + उ-प्रत्यय/उणादि; ‘wishing to take’), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन

• अम्भः: water
• अम्भः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्भस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative singular

• गुर्वर्थम्: for the sake of (my) elders/parents
• गुर्वर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (गुरोः अर्थः/गुरूणाम् अर्थः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative singular used adverbially ‘for the sake of’

• यत्: since/that
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सम्बन्ध-निपात/यत्-कारक (relative particle)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: प्रथमा एकवचन; Nominative singular

• ताडितः: have been struck
• ताडितः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ताड् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; past passive participle ‘struck’

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Kartr̥ (कर्तृ-करण in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: तृतीया एकवचन; Instrumental singular

Context

With dissipated energy and intensely troubled mind, I reached the bank of river Sarayu and there I saw the ascetic lying struck by the arrow and with scattered locks of hair. The water pitcher was thrown away and his body smeared with blood and dust as he lay on the ground.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Śravaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma includes truthful moral speech: the wounded ascetic names the act as cruel, affirming that power and weapons must be governed by discernment and restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha comes near; Śravaṇa looks at him and condemns the deed as cruel.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral clarity: even in pain, Śravaṇa speaks truthfully and directly about wrongdoing.