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Shloka 21

शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः

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

स तच्च्रुत्वा वचः क्रूरं मयोक्तमघशंसिना।नाशकत्तीव्रमायासमकर्तुं भगवानृषिः।।।।

sa tac chrutvā vacaḥ krūraṃ mayoktam aghaśaṃsinā |

nāśakat tīvram āyāsam akartuṃ bhagavān ṛṣiḥ ||

میری زبان سے نکلے ان سخت کلمات کو—جو گناہ کے اقرار کرنے والے تھے—سن کر وہ بھگوان رِشی شدید کرب کے طوفان کو روک نہ سکے۔

saḥhe
saḥ:
Kartṛ (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottad (प्रातिपदिक)
FormSarvanāma; Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana
tatthat
tat:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Roottad (प्रातिपदिक)
FormSarvanāma used adjectivally; Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifies 'vacaḥ' (collective)
śrutvāhaving heard
śrutvā:
Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√śru (धातु)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय, अव्ययकृदन्त)
vacaḥwords/speech
vacaḥ:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootvacas (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; here object of hearing
krūramcruel
krūram:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootkrūra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; agrees with 'vacaḥ'
mayāby me
mayā:
Kartṛ (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootasmad (प्रातिपदिक)
FormSarvanāma; Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana
uktamspoken
uktam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeVerb
Root√vac (धातु)
FormKta PPP (क्त); Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; agrees with 'vacaḥ' (sense: 'uttered')
aghaśaṃsināby (me) who confessed a sin
aghaśaṃsinā:
Kartṛ (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootagha-śaṃsin (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTatpuruṣa: agha + śaṃsin ('one who tells/declares sin'); Pumliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; instrumental of agent/attribute referring to 'mayā' (I, the sinful-deed-declaring one)
nanot
na:
Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
FormNegation particle (निषेध)
aśakatwas able
aśakat:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√śak (धातु)
FormLaṅ (लङ्, imperfect/past), Prathama puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada
tīvramintense
tīvram:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Roottīvra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPumliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifies 'āyāsam'
āyāsamanguish/strain
āyāsam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootāyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPumliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana
akartumnot to do (i.e., to refrain)
akartum:
Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
TypeVerb
Root√kṛ (धातु)
FormInfinitive (तुमुन्-प्रत्यय) with privative a-; expresses purpose/complement of ability
bhagavānvenerable
bhagavān:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootbhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; honorific epithet of 'ṛṣiḥ'
ṛṣiḥsage
ṛṣiḥ:
Kartṛ (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

The venerable sage heard my cruel words about the sinful act and was not able to seriously react. (He was stunned).

D
Daśaratha
Ṛṣi (sage)

FAQs

Dharma recognizes the real human cost of wrongdoing: truth must be spoken, but it also brings rightful grief and consequence.

Daśaratha’s confession reaches the sage, who is overwhelmed and momentarily unable to contain his distress.

Moral seriousness: the sage’s reaction shows that harm to an innocent is not a light matter, even if accidental.