Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 76
शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः
The Sound-Target Tragedy, the Sage’s Curse, and Dasaratha’s Death
हा राघव महाबाहो हा ममाऽयासनाशन।हा पितृप्रिय मे नाथ हाऽद्य क्वासि गतस्सुत।।।।
hā rāghava mahābāho hā mamāyāsanāśana | hā pitṛpriya me nātha hādya kvāsi gataḥ suta ||
அய்யோ ராகவா, மகாபாஹுவே! அய்யோ என் துயர்-நாசகனே! அய்யோ தந்தைக்கு அருமையானவனே—என் நாதா, என் மகனே! இன்று நீ எங்கே சென்றாய்?
Ah, mighty-armed Rama, destroyer of my agonies, Ah, the delight of your father, Ah, my protector, Ah, my son, where have you gone?.
FAQs
The verse frames Rāma as a moral refuge (‘protector’): Dharma is portrayed as the sustaining support of the family and kingdom, whose absence becomes unbearable.
Daśaratha calls out to the exiled Rāma, unable to accept the separation and speaking as if Rāma could return.
Rāma’s protective, relieving presence is praised—his capacity to remove others’ suffering through righteous conduct and strength.