Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 17
शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः
The Sound-Target Tragedy, the Sage’s Curse, and Dasaratha’s Death
भगवच्छशब्दमालक्ष्य मया गजजिघांसुना।विसृप्टोऽम्भसि नाराचस्तेन ते निहतस्सुतः।।।।
bhagavacchaśabdam ālakṣya mayā gajajighāṃsunā | visṛṣṭo 'mbhasi nārācas tena te nihataḥ sutaḥ ||
ஓ பகவனே! யானையை வேட்டையாட எண்ணி, நீரில் எழுந்த அந்த ஒலியை இலக்காகக் கொண்டு நான் கூரிய அம்பை விட்டேன்; அதனால் தான் உங்கள் புதல்வன் கொல்லப்பட்டான்॥
O venerable one! I released an arrow towards the water aiming at the sound intending to kill an elephant but it hit your son.
FAQs
Full disclosure (satya) to the injured party: dharma requires naming the act, intent, and consequence without euphemism, enabling just moral reckoning.
Daśaratha explicitly states that his arrow—shot at a sound—killed the sage’s son.
Accountability—he directly attributes the death to his own released arrow.