Valmiki Ramayana 2.64.3: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 3

शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः

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

Spoken by King Daśaratha to RamaSetting: On the path leading to the ascetics’ hermitagePlaces named: āśramaReturn/approach to āśrama carrying water-pot

Devanagari script

ततस्तं घटमादाय पूर्णं परमवारिणा ।

आश्रमं तमहं प्राप्य यथाऽख्यातपथं गतः ॥३॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.64.3

Transliteration

tatastaṃ ghaṭam ādāya pūrṇaṃ paramavāriṇā |

āśramaṃ tam ahaṃ prāpya yathākhyātapathaṃ gataḥ ||3||

Translation

Затем, взяв кувшин, наполненный чистой водой, я добрался до обители, следуя по пути точно так, как мне было указано.

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Word by Word

• ततः: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अपादानार्थक (then/thereafter)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• तम्: that
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘that’ (refers to pot)
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object)

• घटम्: pot
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghaṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object)

• आदाय: having taken
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√dā (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having taken’
• Role: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)

• पूर्णम्: filled
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण to ‘ghaṭam’
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• परम-वारिणा: with very pure water
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + vāri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: परमं वारि = ‘very pure water’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण/साधन
• Role: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• आश्रमम्: hermitage
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गन्तव्य (destination)
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object of motion)

• तम्: that
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण to ‘āśramam’ (‘that’)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• अहम्: I
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• प्राप्य: having reached
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√āp (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having reached’
• Role: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)

• यथा-आख्यात-पथम्: the path as directed
• Type: Noun
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + ākhyāta (कृदन्त) + patha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: आख्यातः पन्थाः = ‘the path that was told’; with यथा ‘as’; पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गमनस्य कर्म
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object of motion)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• गतः: went
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे ‘went’
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

Sandhi Notes

• ततस्तं = ततः + तम्
• घटमादाय = घटम् + आदाय
• तमहं = तम् + अहम्
• यथाऽख्यातपथम् = यथा + आख्यातपथम् (avagraha)

Context

Holding the pot filled with clean water I reached the hermitage following the path as directed.

The teaching

In the wake of harm, one must act with precision and humility, fulfilling what is required without evasion.

Duties in tension

• Royal authority vs submission to ascetic instruction after wrongdoing
• Personal shame vs duty to assist bereaved parents and complete necessary acts

Ethical theme

Prāyaścitta-oriented conduct, śauca, accountability

How it resolves

Procedural compliance (following instructed path; preparing for ensuing rites/encounter)

For your practice

Practice of mindful, exact action (smṛti) and purity (śauca) even amid distress.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Dutiful, hushed, ritual-bound

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Confession
• Karma

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• āśrama (hermitage)

FAQs

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

Accountability in action: Daśaratha narrates events precisely as they occurred, supporting truthfulness (satya) and moral responsibility for consequences.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha continues recounting how he followed directions to the hermitage after the tragic incident, moving toward the blind ascetics’ dwelling.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthful narration and acceptance of responsibility—he reports his actions without embellishment, a step toward repentance.