Shloka 4

एकोनचत्वारिंशः सर्गः

Dasaratha’s Lament, Sumantra’s Commission, and Sita’s Vow of Marital Dharma

Devanagari script

मन्ये खलु मया पूर्वं विवत्सा बहवःकृताः।प्राणिनो हिंसिता वापि तस्मादिदमुपस्थितम्।।2.39.4।।

Transliteration

manye khalu mayā pūrvaṃ vivatsā bahavaḥ kṛtāḥ | prāṇino hiṃsitā vāpi tasmād idam upasthitam || 2.39.4 ||

Translation

నిశ్చయంగా నేను పూర్వకాలంలో అనేకులను సంతానవియోగులుగా చేసివుంటాను, లేక ప్రాణులను హింసించి ఉంటాను; అందువల్ల ఈ దుఃఖం నాకు వచ్చి చేరింది అని నేను భావిస్తున్నాను।

Word by Word

मन्येI think/deem

खलुindeed

मयाby me

पूर्वम्formerly

विवत्साःbereft of children

बहवःmany

कृताःwere made/reduced

प्राणिनःliving beings

हिंसिताःwere harmed

वाor

अपिalso/even

तस्मात्therefore

इदम्this

उपस्थितम्has befallen

Context

If I have been harsh towards you, on account of our living together or through ignorance may you forgive me. I (now) seek leave of you all.

Characters & Entities

Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Moral causality: suffering is contemplated as a consequence of past harm (hiṃsā) done to others, urging accountability and repentance rather than self-justification.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha, devastated by the impending exile of Rāma, interprets his present calamity as the fruit of earlier wrongdoing.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-scrutiny and remorse—Daśaratha turns inward, acknowledging possible past violence and its ethical repercussions.