Valmiki Ramayana 2.64.20 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 20

शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः

The Sound-Target Tragedy, the Sage’s Curse, and Dasaratha’s Death

Devanagari script

अज्ञानाद्भवतः पुत्र स्सहसाऽभिहतो मया।शेषमेवं गते यत्स्यात्तत्प्रसीदतु मे मुनिः।।।।

Transliteration

ajñānād bhavataḥ putraḥ sahasā ’bhihato mayā |

śeṣam evaṃ gate yat syāt tat prasīdatu me muniḥ ||

Translation

ข้าแต่มุนีผู้ทรงศักดิ์ ด้วยความไม่รู้ ข้าพเจ้าได้ทำร้ายบุตรของท่านจนสิ้นชีวิตด้วยความรีบร้อน ครั้นเมื่อเหตุเป็นดังนี้แล้ว ขอพระฤๅษีโปรดเมตตาบอกเถิดว่า ยังเหลือสิ่งใดที่พึงกระทำต่อไป

Word by Word

• ajñānāt: from ignorance
• ajñānāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ajñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Pañcamī vibhakti (5th/पञ्चमी), Ekavacana (singular); Ablative of cause (हेतु-अपादान)

• bhavataḥ: of you/your
• bhavataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (6th/षष्ठी), Ekavacana; Honorific pronoun used for 'your'

• putraḥ: son
• putraḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana

• sahasā: suddenly
• sahasā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• abhihataḥ: struck/slain
• abhihataḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi√han (धातु)
• Form: Kta-pratyaya past passive participle (क्त-प्रत्यय, भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त); Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agrees with 'putraḥ'

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Tṛtīyā vibhakti (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana

• śeṣam: the remainder
• śeṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; manner adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• gate: when (it is) thus happened
• gate: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: Kta-pratyaya PPP used in locative absolute (सप्तमी-तत्काल/सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध); Napumsaka, Saptamī vibhakti (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana; with implied 'kāle/avasthāyām'

• yat: whatever
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Napumsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; relative pronoun correlating with 'tat'

• syāt: may be/should be
• syāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्, optative), Prathama puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Napumsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; correlative to 'yat'

• prasīdatu: may (he) be pleased
• prasīdatu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√sad (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (लोट्, imperative/benedictive), Prathama puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• me: towards me / for me
• me: Sampradāna/Prayojana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (6th/षष्ठी), Ekavacana (enclitic)

• muniḥ: the sage
• muniḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana

Context

Your son has been killed by me due to my ignorance. Since this has happened, may the ascetic be pleased to command me on the next course of action.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Muni (ascetic)
• Śravaṇa (implied as ‘your son’)

FAQs

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

Satya and responsibility: Daśaratha openly confesses the deed and submits himself to rightful guidance or consequence.

What is the narrative situation?

After realizing he has killed the ascetic’s son, Daśaratha approaches the parents and admits the truth, asking what he should do next.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthfulness joined with humility—accepting that moral repair requires guidance from the wronged party and from dharma.