Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 21

दशरथस्य शोकानुचिन्तनं शब्धवेधि-दोषस्मरणं च

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

Devanagari script

तस्मिन्नतिसुखे काले धनुष्मानिषुमान्रथी।व्यायामकृतसङ्कल्पस्सरयूमन्वगां नदीम्।।2.63.21।।

Transliteration

tasminn ati-sukhe kāle dhanuṣmān iṣumān rathī | vyāyāma-kṛta-saṅkalpaḥ sarayūm anvagāṃ nadīm || 2.63.21 ||

Translation

اُس نہایت خوشگوار موسم میں، میں—کمان و تیر سے مسلّح، رتھ پر سوار، شکار کی مشق کا پختہ ارادہ کیے—سرَیو ندی کے کنارے کنارے چل پڑا۔

Word by Word

• tasmin: in that
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ati-sukhe: very pleasant
• ati-sukhe: Adhikaraṇa-viśeṣaṇa (अधिकरणविशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (अव्यय) + sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva: अतिसुखे = ‘very pleasant’; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying kāle

• kāle: time/season
• kāle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• dhanuṣmān: bow-bearing (one)
• dhanuṣmān: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanuṣmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• iṣumān: arrow-bearing (one)
• iṣumān: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: iṣumat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); in apposition to dhanuṣmān/rathī

• rathī: charioteer/chariot-warrior
• rathī: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rathin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• vyāyāma-kṛta-saṅkalpaḥ: one resolved for exercise/hunting
• vyāyāma-kṛta-saṅkalpaḥ: Kartā-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāyāma (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛta (कृ-धातु, क्त) + saṅkalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: व्यायामेन कृतः सङ्कल्पः यस्य; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarayūm: Sarayu (river)
• sarayūm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarayū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• anvagām: went along/followed
• anvagām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-gam (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• nadīm: river
• nadīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to sarayūm

Context

In that highly delightful season, wishing to go hunting I, armed with bow and arrows, rode my chariot towards river Sarayu.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Sarayū River

FAQs

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

Dharma here raises the question of regulated conduct: even lawful royal pastimes like hunting demand discipline and responsibility because their consequences can be grave.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha begins the personal backstory leading to his curse: during a pleasant season he sets out to hunt near the Sarayū.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Intentionality (saṅkalpa) is highlighted—yet the verse also foreshadows that resolve without ethical restraint can become dangerous.