Valmiki Ramayana 2.64.32 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 32
शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः
The Sound-Target Tragedy, the Sage’s Curse, and Dasaratha’s Death
न त्वहं ते प्रियं पुत्र मातरं पश्य धार्मिक।किं नु नालिङ्गसे पुत्र सुकुमार वचो वद।।।।
na tv ahaṃ te priyaṃ putra mātaraṃ paśya dhārmika | kiṃ nu nāliṅgase putra sukumāra vaco vada ||
हे पुत्र धर्मात्मन्, यदि त्वं मां न प्रियं मन्यसे, तथापि मातरं पश्य। किं नु सुकुमार, मां नालिङ्गसे? वचः किञ्चिद् वद।
'O righteous son! if I am no longer dear to you, (at least) look at your mother. O tender child, why are you not embracing me? Speak.
FAQs
Filial dharma: care, affection, and responsiveness toward parents—especially the mother—are presented as the son’s righteous identity, now tragically interrupted.
The father pleads for a response and for the son to acknowledge the mother, reflecting disbelief and the shattering of household-ascetic dependence on the child.
Śravaṇa is remembered as “dhārmika,” implying obedience and service to parents—an ideal of devotion and gentleness.
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