Valmiki Ramayana 2.64.40 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 40

शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः

The Sound-Target Tragedy, the Sage’s Curse, and Dasaratha’s Death

Devanagari script

दातुमर्हति धर्मात्मा लोकपालो महायशाः।ईदृशस्य ममाक्षय्या मेकामभयदक्षिणाम्।।।।

Transliteration

dātum arhati dharmātmā lokapālo mahāyaśāḥ |

īdṛśasya mamākṣayyāṃ ekām abhaya-dakṣiṇām ||2.64.40||

Translation

அந்த தர்மாத்மா, பெரும் புகழுடைய உலகபாலன் (யமன்), என்னைப் போன்றவனுக்கு ஒரு அழியாத வரத்தை அருள வேண்டும்—அபயம், அச்சத்திலிருந்து காப்பு.

Word by Word

• दातुम्: to give
• दातुम्: Prayojana/Artha (प्रयोजन/अर्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-रूप (Infinitive), धातु: दा (to give)

• अर्हति: is fit/ought
• अर्हति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• धर्मात्मा: the righteous-souled one
• धर्मात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समास: धर्मस्य आत्मा (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• लोकपालः: guardian of the worlds
• लोकपालः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक-पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समास: लोकानां पालः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• महायशाः: of great renown
• महायशाः: Karta-anvayi (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महायशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समास: महत् यशः यस्य (कर्मधारय-प्रातिपदिक)

• ईदृशस्य: of such a one
• ईदृशस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• मम: of me / my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• अक्षय्याम्: unfailing
• अक्षय्याम्: Karma-anvayi (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies दक्षिणाम्)

• मे: to me
• मे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एकाम्: one
• एकाम्: Karma-anvayi (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies दक्षिणाम्)

• अभयदक्षिणाम्: a gift of fearlessness (protection)
• अभयदक्षिणाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभय-दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समास: अभयम् एव दक्षिणा (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रयोगः: ‘fearlessness as the gift’)

Context

'That lord of justice, who is highly renowned, righteous and the guardian of the worlds will grant me one unfailing boon of protection from fear.

Characters & Entities

• Yama

FAQs

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

The verse frames divine justice as dharmic governance: Yama, as guardian and judge, dispenses outcomes (boons/protections) consistent with righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

Śravaṇa speaks of Yama’s authority and imagines receiving a protective boon in the afterlife, emphasizing the moral order overseeing life and death.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Faith in dharmic order: even amid tragedy, the speaker trusts that righteous governance exists beyond human error.