Valmiki Ramayana 2.64.24 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 24

शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः

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

Devanagari script

क्षत्रियेण वधो राजन् वानप्रस्थे विशेषतः।ज्ञानपूर्वं कृत स्स्थानाच्च्यावयेदपि वज्रिणम्।।।।

Transliteration

kṣatriyeṇa vadho rājan vānaprasthe viśeṣataḥ |

jñānapūrvaṃ kṛtaḥ sthānāc cyāvayed api vajriṇam ||

Translation

О царь, убийство, совершенное кшатрием — особенно лесного отшельника — если оно совершено сознательно, может свергнуть даже Ваджрина (Индру) с его престола.

Word by Word

• kṣatriyeṇa: by a kshatriya
• kṣatriyeṇa: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣatriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana

• vadhaḥ: killing
• vadhaḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• rājan: O king
• rājan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

• vānaprasthe: in the case of a forest-dweller
• vānaprasthe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānaprastha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; locative of reference (विषय-अधिकरण)

• viśeṣataḥ: especially
• viśeṣataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viśeṣataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (विशेषेण)

• jñāna-pūrvam: knowingly
• jñāna-pūrvam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: jñāna + pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva: 'with knowledge beforehand' used adverbially; avyaya sense

• kṛtaḥ: done/committed
• kṛtaḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Kta PPP; Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agrees with 'vadhaḥ'

• sthānāt: from (his) position
• sthānāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Pañcamī, Ekavacana; ablative of separation (अपादान)

• cyāvayet: would overthrow/dislodge
• cyāvayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √cyu (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (optative), Prathama puruṣa, Ekavacana; causative (णिच्) sense: 'would cause to fall/overthrow'

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (समुच्चय/अपि=even)

• vajriṇam: the thunderbolt-bearer (Indra)
• vajriṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; object of 'cyāvayet'

Context

'If a kshatriya kills any one knowingly, particularly when in vanaprastha (third stage) this sin can displace even Indra, wielder of the thunderbolt from his position, O king.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Power must be restrained by dharma: a ruler’s violence is legitimate only under righteous conditions; harming protected ascetics is a grave adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

The sage explains the enormity of the sin in general terms, emphasizing how catastrophic a deliberate killing of an ascetic would be.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence for tapas and spiritual life, and the expectation that kings uphold protection rather than harm.