Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 49

दशरथस्य शोकानुचिन्तनं शब्धवेधि-दोषस्मरणं च

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

Devanagari script

सशल्यः क्लिश्यते प्राणैर्विशल्यो विनशिष्यति।इति मामविशच्चिन्ता तस्य शल्यापकर्षणे।।2.63.49।।

Transliteration

saśalyaḥ kliśyate prāṇair viśalyo vinaśiṣyati |

iti mām aviśac cintā tasya śalyāpakarṣaṇe ||2.63.49||

Translation

想到拔出他的箭，我心中忧惧：若让箭留在体内，他在尚有气息时将受苦；若将箭拔出，他便会死去。

Word by Word

• saśalyaḥ: with the arrow in (him)
• saśalyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-śalya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; 'with arrow/foreign body'

• kliśyate: suffers/is pained
• kliśyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kliś (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• prāṇaiḥ: with (his) life-breaths
• prāṇaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-बहुवचन (instrumental)

• viśalyaḥ: (if) arrow removed
• viśalyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-śalya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन

• vinaśiṣyati: will perish/die
• vinaśiṣyati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-naś (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: वि-

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: इत्यादि-प्रकारक अव्यय (quotative)

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचन

• aviśat: entered/seized
• aviśat: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-viś (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: आ-

• cintā: anxiety/thought
• cintā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cintā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-एकवचन

• śalya: arrow/foreign body
• śalya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śalya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (as first member), समासपूर्वपद

• apakarṣaṇe: in the removal
• apakarṣaṇe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apakarṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-एकवचन (locative)

Context

The thought of removing the arrow kept me pondering. If not removed, it will be painful, and if removed, he will die.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Śravaṇa
• arrow (śalya)
• Kauśalyā

FAQs

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

Dharma often involves tragic choice; compassion must operate within harsh realities, and one must still act responsibly amid unavoidable loss.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha recalls his hesitation: extracting the arrow might hasten death, but leaving it causes continued agony.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Conscience and remorse: Daśaratha’s inner conflict shows awareness of suffering and responsibility for it.