Valmiki Ramayana 2.63.30: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 30

दशरथस्य शोकानुचिन्तनं शब्धवेधि-दोषस्मरणं च

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

Addressed to DasharathaSetting: Forest near a water-source (implied by the episode of drawing water)Places named: vana

Devanagari script

ऋषेर्हिन्यस्तदण्डस्य वने वन्येन जीवतः ।

कथं नु शस्रेण वधो मद्विधस्य विधीयते ॥३०॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.63.30

Transliteration

ṛṣer hi nyasta-daṇḍasya vane vanyena jīvataḥ |

kathaṃ nu śastreṇa vadho mad-vidhasya vidhīyate ||30||

Translation

Gdyż jestem ascetą, który odłożył przemoc na bok, żyjąc w lesiu z leśnym pożywieniem, jakże bowiem zabicie kogoś takiego jak ja może być dokonane bronią?

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Word by Word

• jaṭā-bhāra-dharasya: of one bearing a mass of matted hair
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jaṭā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāra (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: ‘bearing a load of matted hair’), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• eva: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphasis)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)

• valkala-ajina-vāsasaḥ: of one wearing bark and antelope-skin garments
• Type: Adjective
• Root: valkala (प्रातिपदिक) + ajina (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (copulative: ‘bark and skin garments’), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन; (of one) wearing bark-and-antelope-skin clothing
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Compound: Dvandva

• kaḥ: who?
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• vadhena: by killing
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन
• Role: Karana (करण)

• mama: of me, my
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

• arthī: desirous, seeking
• Type: Adjective
• Root: arthin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण (one who desires), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; कः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• syāt: could be
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘could be’
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• kim: what?
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; अत्र द्वितीया
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• vā: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पार्थक निपात
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)

• asya: of him
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

• apakṛtam: harm, wrong done
• Type: Noun
• Root: apa-√kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past participle used as noun: ‘harm done’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (what harm?)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• mayā: by me
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया एकवचन
• Role: Karana (करण)

Sandhi Notes

• dharasyaiva = dharasya + eva
• mamārthī = mama + arthī
• syātkiṃvā = syāt + kim + vā
• 'syāpakṛtam = asya + apakṛtam

Context

'Renouncing violence I live the life of an ascetic on forest produce. Why should any one kill me with a weapon?

The teaching

Even unintended violence becomes grievous when born of heedlessness; restraint and right discernment are integral to dharma.

Duties in tension

• Kṣatriya duty of hunting/protection vs duty of non-harm toward ascetics and innocents
• Acting on sound perception (pramāṇa) vs impulsive action based on sound alone

Ethical theme

Ahiṃsā / pramāda (negligence)

How it resolves

Recognition of adharma through the victim’s appeal; sets up repentance

For your practice

Cultivates vigilance (apramāda) and compassion; reflection on ahiṃsā in daily conduct.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Bhayanaka (fear)

Mood

Bewildered, wounded, supplicatory

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Ahimsa
• Protection of ascetics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• forest (vana)

FAQs

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

Those who renounce violence deserve protection; dharma requires safeguarding the harmless, not endangering them through force or negligence.

What is the narrative situation?

The victim identifies himself as non-violent and questions the moral logic of being killed with a weapon.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Ahimsa (non-harming) and austerity—his life is portrayed as disciplined and innocent.