Valmiki Ramayana 2.63.40: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 40

दशरथस्य शोकानुचिन्तनं शब्धवेधि-दोषस्मरणं च

Daśaratha’s grief, karmic reflection, and the remembered ‘śabdavedhī’ misdeed

Devanagari script

स मामुद्वीक्ष्य नेत्राभ्यां त्रस्तमस्वस्थचेतसम् ।

इत्युवाच ततः क्रूरं दिधक्षन्निव तेजसा ॥४०॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.63.40

Transliteration

sa mām udvīkṣya netrābhyāṃ trastam asvasthacetasaṃ |

ity uvāca tataḥ krūraṃ didhakṣann iva tejasā ||40||

Translation

ครั้นเขาเห็นข้าพเจ้า ผู้หวาดหวั่นและจิตใจสั่นไหว เขาก็เงยหน้ามองด้วยดวงตาทั้งสอง ราวกับจะเผาข้าพเจ้าด้วยรัศมีแห่งตบะ แล้วจึงกล่าวว่า “โหดร้ายยิ่งนัก!”

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Word by Word

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative singular used interrogatively

• तव: to you/your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: षष्ठी एकवचन; Genitive singular

• अपकृतम्: harm (done)
• अपकृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप + कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘harm done’

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचन; Vocative singular

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन; Locative singular

• निवसता: by (me) dwelling
• निवसता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + वस् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (शतृ/वर्तमान कृदन्त), पुंलिङ्ग तृतीया एकवचन; Instrumental singular ‘by me residing’

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: तृतीया एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• जिहीर्षुः: wishing to take
• जिहीर्षुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (सन्-प्रत्यय desiderative + उ-प्रत्यय/उणादि; ‘wishing to take’), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन

• अम्भः: water
• अम्भः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्भस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative singular

• गुर्वर्थम्: for the sake of (my) elders/parents
• गुर्वर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (गुरोः अर्थः/गुरूणाम् अर्थः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative singular used adverbially ‘for the sake of’

• यत्: since/that
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सम्बन्ध-निपात/यत्-कारक (relative particle)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: प्रथमा एकवचन; Nominative singular

• ताडितः: have been struck
• ताडितः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ताड् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; past passive participle ‘struck’

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Kartr̥ (कर्तृ-करण in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: तृतीया एकवचन; Instrumental singular

Context

I was mentally stricken and frightened. He looked up as if buring me with the energy of his eyes. Then he uttered the words 'A cruel act!'

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Śravaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma includes truthful moral speech: the wounded ascetic names the act as cruel, affirming that power and weapons must be governed by discernment and restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha comes near; Śravaṇa looks at him and condemns the deed as cruel.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral clarity: even in pain, Śravaṇa speaks truthfully and directly about wrongdoing.