The Need For Prudence

The reputation of Dasaratha, prince of the city of Ayodhya, was known far and wide. He was proud of his skill as Shabdabhedi, as one who could shoot an arrow by merely listening to the sound, even in darkness. He was pleased with the praise of the people. At dusk, he would go out alone in his chariot and wait in the heart of the forest. Whenever he heard the sound of footsteps of wild animals or the sound made by them while drinking water, he would immediately shoot an arrow and kill them.

One night as he lay among the bushes, listening for the sound of leaves or water, he suddenly heard something moving on the shore of the lake. He could see nothing in the darkness. But was not Dasaratha a Shabdabhedi? The sound was enough for him. Feeling certain that it was an elephant, he shot an arrow.  Immediately a cry rang out which made him leap up. “Help! Help! Someone has shot me!”

The bow fell from Dasaratha’s hands. He suddenly felt dizzy with horror. What had he done? Wounded a human being instead of a wild beast? He rushed through the jungle towards the lake. On the bank a young man was lying in a pool of blood, all disheveled, holding in his hand a pitcher which he had just been filling.

“Oh Sir,” he groaned, “Was it you who shot the fatal arrow? What harm have I done to you that you should treat me so? I am a hermit’s son. My aged parents are blind. I look after them and provide for their needs. I came to fetch water for them, and now I shall no longer be able to serve them! Follow this path to their hut and tell them what has happened. But first pull out this arrow from my breast, for it gives me great pain.”

Dasaratha removed the arrow from the wound. The young man breathed a last sigh and died. Then the prince filled the pitcher with water and followed the path, the dying youth had shown him. As he came near, the father called out: “My son, why have you taken so long? Were you swimming in the lake? We feared that some harm had befallen you. But why don’t you answer?”

With a trembling voice, Dasaratha said: “I am not your son, Oh holy hermit! I am a Kshatriya, and until now, I was proud of my skill. This night as I was waiting to hunt I heard a sound and thought that it was made by an elephant drinking water. I shot my arrow. Alas! It struck your son. Oh, tell me how to atone for my sin.”

Then the old couple cried out and wept. They bade the prince led them to the spot where their only son was lying dead. They recited sacred hymns over his body and performed the funeral rites. Then the hermit said: “Listen, Dasaratha! Because of your fault, we lost our only son and are extremely sad. We shed tears over our dear son. One day, you also shall weep over a beloved son. Before that, many years will pass; but the punishment shall surely come.” They made a pyre to burn the dead body, then threw themselves into the flames, and perished.

Time passed, Dasaratha became King of Ayodhya and married  Kausalya. And their son was glorious Rama. Rama was loved by all in the city. These two women, Kaikeyi and her maid Manthara, caused the downfall of noble Rama and because of them, he was sent into exile for fourteen years. As the aged parents had mourned in the jungle for the young man who had died at midnight by the lakeside, Dasaratha gave up his life, unable to bear the separation from his beloved son Rama.

Dasaratha had once been so proud of his skill that he had lacked prudence, and given no thought to the risk of wounding someone in the darkness. It would have been better for him only to draw his bow in full daylight than to trust in his skill as a Shabdabhedi. He meant no harm, but he lacked foresight.

QUESTIONS:

1. Who is a Shabdabhedi?
2. Why did Dasaratha shoot his arrow at the son of the old hermit?
3. Why did he commit this mistake?
4. How did he atone for it?
5. Why did the hermit and his wife burn themselves to death?
6. What was the hermit’s curse on Dasaratha?
7. Give an instance of your own prudence or imprudence and narrate the consequences that followed.