Valmiki Ramayana 2.64.77: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 77
शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः
The Sound-Target Tragedy, the Sage’s Curse, and Dasaratha’s Death
हा कौसल्ये नशिष्यामि हा सुमित्रे तपस्विनि ।
हा नृशंसे ममामित्रे कैकेयि कुलपांसनि ॥७७॥
hā kausalyā naśiṣyāmi hā sumitre tapasvini |
hā nṛśaṃse mamāmitre kaikeyi kulapāṃsani ||77||
హా కౌసల్యా! హా సుమిత్రా, తపస్వినీ! హా నృశంసే—నా శత్రువైన—కైకేయీ, కులకలంకమా! నేను నశిస్తున్నాను।
Ah, Kausalya, Ah, pitiable Sumitra, Ah, cruel Kaikeyi, my enemy and defiler of my race, I am going to die.
FAQs
It shows how adharma within family and court politics can devastate the righteous order of a household and kingdom; speech here becomes moral judgment tied to lineage-responsibility.
In his final moments, Daśaratha laments before Kausalyā and Sumitrā and condemns Kaikeyī as the cause of his ruin.
Sumitrā’s endurance (tapas-like forbearance) is implicitly honored, contrasting with Kaikeyī’s portrayed cruelty.
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