Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 4
दशरथस्य शोकानुचिन्तनं शब्धवेधि-दोषस्मरणं च
Daśaratha’s grief, karmic reflection, and the remembered ‘śabdavedhī’ misdeed
स राजा रजनीं षष्ठीं रामे प्रव्राजिते वनम्।अर्धरात्रे दशरथ स्संस्मरन् दुष्कृतं कृतम्।।2.63.4।।
sa rājā rajanīṃ ṣaṣṭhīṃ rāme pravrājite vanam | ardharātre daśarathaḥ saṃsmaran duṣkṛtaṃ kṛtam || 2.63.4 ||
ராமன் வனத்திற்கு நாடுகடத்தப்பட்டபின், அரசன் தசரதன் ஆறாம் இரவைக் கழித்தான்; நள்ளிரவில் முன்பு செய்த தீச்செயலை மீண்டும் மீண்டும் நினைத்து வருந்தினான்.
I was mentally stricken and frightened. He looked up as if buring me with the energy of his eyes. Then he uttered the words 'A cruel act!'
FAQs
The verse presents karma aligned with dharma: past wrongdoing returns as inner torment and worldly suffering. Ethical actions are not erased by time; they mature into consequences.
After Rāma’s exile, Daśaratha lies awake on the sixth night, haunted by remembrance of his earlier sin, setting the stage for the Śravaṇa episode’s recollection.
Moral awareness (even if late): Daśaratha’s remembrance indicates recognition of guilt and the truth of moral causality.