Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 11
दशरथस्य शोकानुचिन्तनं शब्धवेधि-दोषस्मरणं च
Daśaratha’s grief, karmic reflection, and the remembered ‘śabdavedhī’ misdeed
लब्धशब्देन कौसल्ये कुमारेण धनुष्मता।कुमारश्शब्दवेधीति मया पापमिदं कृतम्।।2.63.11।।
labdhaśabdena kauśalye kumāreṇa dhanuṣmatā |
kumāraḥ śabdavedhī ’ti mayā pāpam idaṃ kṛtam ||
கௌசல்யையே! வில்லேந்திய இளமைப் பருவத்தில் ‘சப்தவேதி’ எனப் புகழ் பெற்ற நான், இந்தப் பாவச் செயலைச் செய்தேன்.
O Kausalya! in my youth I was a great archer who could hit the target by its sound. As such I committed this sin.
FAQs
Dharma requires moral restraint over mere skill: extraordinary ability, when mixed with pride or carelessness, can lead to adharma and lifelong consequence.
Daśaratha begins confessing an earlier wrongdoing connected to his famed ability to shoot based on sound, setting up the karmic background of his present suffering.
Confessional honesty—admitting sin without concealment, a step toward ethical clarity even if consequences remain.