Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 24
शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः
The Sound-Target Tragedy, the Sage’s Curse, and Dasaratha’s Death
क्षत्रियेण वधो राजन् वानप्रस्थे विशेषतः।ज्ञानपूर्वं कृत स्स्थानाच्च्यावयेदपि वज्रिणम्।।।।
kṣatriyeṇa vadho rājan vānaprasthe viśeṣataḥ |
jñānapūrvaṃ kṛtaḥ sthānāc cyāvayed api vajriṇam ||
ஓ அரசே! க்ஷத்திரியன் செய்த கொலை—குறிப்பாக வானப்ரஸ்தன் எனும் வனவாசியின்மேல்—அறிந்தே செய்தால், அது வஜ்ரதாரி இந்திரனையும் தன் பதவியிலிருந்து வீழ்த்த வல்லது।
'If a kshatriya kills any one knowingly, particularly when in vanaprastha (third stage) this sin can displace even Indra, wielder of the thunderbolt from his position, O king.
FAQs
Power must be restrained by dharma: a ruler’s violence is legitimate only under righteous conditions; harming protected ascetics is a grave adharma.
The sage explains the enormity of the sin in general terms, emphasizing how catastrophic a deliberate killing of an ascetic would be.
Reverence for tapas and spiritual life, and the expectation that kings uphold protection rather than harm.