Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 28
दशरथस्य शोकानुचिन्तनं शब्धवेधि-दोषस्मरणं च
Daśaratha’s grief, karmic reflection, and the remembered ‘śabdavedhī’ misdeed
तस्मिन्निपतिते बाणे वागभूत्तत्र मानुषी। कथमस्मद्विधे शस्त्रं निपतेत्तु तपस्विनि।।2.63.28।।
tasmin nipatite bāṇe vāg abhūt tatra mānuṣī |
katham asmad-vidhe śastraṃ nipatet tu tapasvini || 2.63.28 ||
ਉਹ ਤੀਰ ਲੱਗਦਿਆਂ ਹੀ ਉੱਥੇ ਮਨੁੱਖੀ ਬੋਲੀ ਸੁਣਾਈ ਦਿੱਤੀ: ‘ਮੇਰੇ ਵਰਗੇ ਤਪਸਵੀ ਉੱਤੇ ਸ਼ਸਤ੍ਰ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਡਿੱਗ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ?’
'I have come to this lonely spot of the river to take water. Who has hit me with this arrow? What (harm) have I done to any one?'
FAQs
Dharma condemns unjust harm: those committed to non-violence and austerity should not become targets of aggression or negligent force.
The wounded ascetic speaks out, questioning the justice of being struck by a weapon.
Moral clarity of the victim—he asserts his tapas (ascetic integrity) and the impropriety of violence against him.