Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 44
शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः
The Sound-Target Tragedy, the Sage’s Curse, and Dasaratha’s Death
या गति स्सर्वसाधूनां स्वाध्यायात्तपसाच या।या भूमिदस्याहिऽताग्नेरेकपत्नी व्रतस्य च।।।।गोसहस्रप्रदातृ़णां या या गुरुभृतामपि।देहन्यासकृतां या च तां गतिं गच्छ पुत्रक।।।।
yā gatiḥ sarvasādhūnāṃ svādhyāyāt tapasā ca yā |
yā bhūmidasya āhitāgneḥ ekapatnī-vratasya ca ||2.64.44||
gosahasra-pradātṝṇāṃ yā yā gurubhṛtām api |
deha-nyāsa-kṛtāṃ yā ca tāṃ gatiṃ gaccha putraka ||2.64.45||
亲爱的孩子，往那一切贤善之人所获之境而去：由诵习吠陀与修苦行而得；由施地、奉持圣火、守一妻之誓而得；由施千牛、奉事供养师长而得；亦由自愿舍身者而得——你当往彼。
'You, my son, shall attain that supreme state obtained by those who are virtuous, who study the Vedas and practise asceticism.You shall attain the state merited by those bestowers of land as charity, who kindle the sacred fires, who are monoganists, who offer a thousand cows in charity, who nurture the venerable and who willingly lay down their bodies.
FAQs
Dharma is presented as a multi-path ideal: learning (svādhyāya), self-discipline (tapas), generosity (dāna), fidelity (vrata), reverence to teachers/elders (guru-bhṛti), and renunciation—all lead to elevated spiritual reward.
The grieving father blesses his son by enumerating dharmic practices and declaring that Śravaṇa will reach the same highest destiny as those who excel in them.
Reverence for dharmic life: the father’s blessing frames virtue as concrete practices—study, austerity, charity, fidelity, and service.