Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 34

दशरथस्य शोकानुचिन्तनं शब्धवेधि-दोषस्मरणं च

Daśaratha’s grief, karmic reflection, and the remembered ‘śabdavedhī’ misdeed

Devanagari script

तदेतन्मिथुनं वृद्धं चिरकालभृतं मया।मयि पञ्चत्वमापन्ने कां वृत्तिं वर्तयिष्यति।।2.63.34।।

Transliteration

tad etan mithunaṃ vṛddhaṃ cirakālabhṛtaṃ mayā | mayi pañcatvam āpanne kāṃ vṛttiṃ vartayiṣyati || 2.63.34 ||

Translation

இந்த முதிய தாய்-தந்தையர் இருவரையும் நான் நீண்ட காலமாகப் பேணிப் பாதுகாத்தேன்; நான் பஞ்சபூதங்களாகி (மரணமடைந்து) விட்டால், அவர்கள் எந்த வழியில் வாழ்வை நடத்துவார்கள்?

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; with 'etan' pointing to the couple

• etan: this
• etan: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; demonstrative with 'mithunam'

• mithunam: couple
• mithunam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mithuna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular; subject of 'vartayiṣyati'

• vṛddham: aged
• vṛddham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; qualifying 'mithunam'

• cirakālabhṛtam: maintained for a long time
• cirakālabhṛtam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cira-kāla-bhṛta (√bhṛ धातु; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; PPP (क्त) 'supported'; compound: cira-kāla (long time) + bhṛta (maintained)

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karaṇa/Agent (करण/कर्तृ-तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular; agent of 'bhṛta' (passive sense)

• mayi: when I / in me
• mayi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Locative (सप्तमी), Singular

• pañcatvam: state of being five elements (death)
• pañcatvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañcatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular; object within locative absolute construction

• āpanne: having reached, having fallen into
• āpanne: Kāla/Condition (काल/अवस्था)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√pad (धातु) + āpanna (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past active participle (क्तवतु/क्त?; lexicalized as PPP-like), Locative (सप्तमी), Singular, Masculine/Neuter agreeing with implied 'mayi' (locative absolute sense: 'when I have reached')

• kām: what
• kām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular; interrogative qualifying 'vṛttim'

• vṛttim: livelihood, way of living
• vṛttim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; object of 'vartayiṣyati'

• vartayiṣyati: will maintain, will live on
• vartayiṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛt (धातु) causative √vṛt→vartay (णिच्)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद); causative: 'will cause to continue/maintain'

Context

'So long I have been supporting this aged couple. After I am dead, how will they live?

Characters & Entities

• Śravaṇa
• mother
• father

FAQs

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

Dharma here is the obligation to sustain dependents—especially elderly parents. The verse frames death not merely as personal loss but as a breach in the chain of care and responsibility.

What is the narrative situation?

Śravaṇa, mortally wounded, explains that his parents’ survival depended on him, making his killing ethically grave in consequence.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsibility and service: Śravaṇa’s life is portrayed as dedicated to long-term care for his parents.