Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 53
शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः
The Sound-Target Tragedy, the Sage’s Curse, and Dasaratha’s Death
अद्यैव जहिं मां राजन्मरणे नास्ति मे व्यथा।यच्छरेणैकपुत्रं मां त्वमकर्षीरपुत्रकम्।।।।
adyaiva jahi māṃ rājan maraṇe nāsti me vyathā | yat śareṇaika-putraṃ māṃ tvam akārṣīr aputrakam ||
Mata-me hoje mesmo, ó rei — a morte não me traz dor — já que com tua flecha me deixaste sem filho, a mim que tinha apenas um.
'Kill me, O king! with the same arrow by which you rendered me childless. Death holds no pain for me.
FAQs
The verse foregrounds the ethical weight of causing irreparable harm: the loss of an only child is portrayed as a moral catastrophe demanding answerability.
The bereaved ascetic confronts Daśaratha and, in anguish, asks to be killed as well, since he is now childless.
Truthful expression of suffering (satya in speech), though sharpened by grief and a demand for retribution.