Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 40
शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः
The Sound-Target Tragedy, the Sage’s Curse, and Dasaratha’s Death
दातुमर्हति धर्मात्मा लोकपालो महायशाः।ईदृशस्य ममाक्षय्या मेकामभयदक्षिणाम्।।।।
dātum arhati dharmātmā lokapālo mahāyaśāḥ |
īdṛśasya mamākṣayyāṃ ekām abhaya-dakṣiṇām ||2.64.40||
அந்த தர்மாத்மா, பெரும் புகழுடைய உலகபாலன் (யமன்), என்னைப் போன்றவனுக்கு ஒரு அழியாத வரத்தை அருள வேண்டும்—அபயம், அச்சத்திலிருந்து காப்பு.
'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.
FAQs
The verse frames divine justice as dharmic governance: Yama, as guardian and judge, dispenses outcomes (boons/protections) consistent with righteousness.
Śravaṇa speaks of Yama’s authority and imagines receiving a protective boon in the afterlife, emphasizing the moral order overseeing life and death.
Faith in dharmic order: even amid tragedy, the speaker trusts that righteous governance exists beyond human error.