Canto 2: Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa ()Chapter 64: Daśaratha Gives up his Life in Remembrance of Lord RāmaText 2.64.24
Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 64: Daśaratha Gives up his Life in Remembrance of Lord Rāma
Text 2.64.24
क्षत्रियेण वधो राजन्वानप्रस्थे विशेषतः।
ज्ञानपूर्वं कृतः स्थानाच्च्यावयेदपि वज्रिणम्॥
kṣatriyeṇa vadho rājan vānaprasthe viśeṣataḥ
jñāna-pūrvaṁ kṛtaḥ sthānāc cyāvayed api vajriṇam
kṣatriyeṇa = by a kṣatriya; vadhaḥ = the murder; rājan = O king; vānaprasthe = of a vanaprastha; viśeṣataḥ = that too; jñāna-pūrvam = knowingly; kṛtaḥ = committed; sthānāt = from his position; cyāvayet = will cause to fall; api = even; vajriṇam = Indra.
O king, the murder of a vanaprastha by a kṣatriya, that too committed knowingly, will cause even Indra to fall from his position.
A kṣatriya is [supposed to be] the protector [of those living in the forest]. Even Indra will fall from his position by unintentionally killing a vānaprastha. Viśeṣataḥ jñāna-pūrvam indicates that [if the same act] is done knowingly, [he will fall down from his position] without delay.