Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 39
दशरथस्य शोकानुचिन्तनं शब्धवेधि-दोषस्मरणं च
Daśaratha’s grief, karmic reflection, and the remembered ‘śabdavedhī’ misdeed
तं देशमहमागम्य दीनसत्त्वस्सुदुर्मनाः।अपश्यमिषुणा तीरे सरय्वास्तापसं हतम्।।2.63.38।।अवकीर्ण जटाभारं प्रविद्धकलशोदकम्।पांसुशोणितदिग्धाङ्गं शयानं शल्यपीडितम्।।2.63.39।।
taṃ deśam aham āgamya dīnasattvaḥ sudurmanāḥ | apaśyam iṣuṇā tīre sarayvāḥ tāpasaṃ hatam || 2.63.38 || avakīrṇajaṭābhāraṃ praviddhakalaśodakam | pāṃsuśoṇitadigdhāṅgaṃ śayānaṃ śalyapīḍitam || 2.63.39 ||
அந்த இடத்தை அடைந்து, வலிமை குன்றி மனம் மிகுந்த துயருற்ற நான், சரயூ நதிக்கரையில் என் அம்பால் தாக்கப்பட்ட ஒரு தவசியைக் கண்டேன்—அவனுடைய சடைகள் சிதறிக் கிடந்தன; கமண்டலத்தின் நீர் சிதறி வீணாயிற்று; அவன் உடல் தூசியும் இரத்தமும் படிந்தது; அம்பால் குத்தப்பட்டு வேதனையால் துடித்தபடி கிடந்தான்.
With dissipated energy and intensely troubled mind, I reached the bank of river Sarayu and there I saw the ascetic lying struck by the arrow and with scattered locks of hair. The water pitcher was thrown away and his body smeared with blood and dust as he lay on the ground.
FAQs
The verse underscores the dharmic gravity of unintended violence: even accidental harm to the innocent (especially an ascetic) is a profound ethical rupture that demands recognition, remorse, and responsibility.
Daśaratha approaches the source of the voice and discovers the wounded ascetic youth on the Sarayū’s bank, confirming that his shot has struck a blameless person.
Truth-facing courage (satya toward oneself): the king does not avert his eyes; he confronts the reality of harm, which becomes the basis for later confession and consequence.