One day, King Dasharatha went hunting in the forest. He was skilled in "shabd-bhedi baan" (shooting an arrow by sound).
At the same time, Shravana Kumar was carrying his old and blind parents on his shoulders in baskets, taking them on a pilgrimage. When he stopped near a river to fill water, Dasharatha heard the sound and mistook it for an animal.
He shot an arrow—
but sadly, it struck Shravana instead.
💔 Shravana's Last Words
Before dying, Shravana told Dasharatha:
He was not an animal, but a devoted son.
He requested the king to take water to his blind parents.
😢 The Parents' Curse
When Dasharatha went to the parents and told them the truth, they were heartbroken.
Shravana's parents cursed him, saying:
Just as we are dying in the pain of losing our son,
you too will die in sorrow because of separation from your son.
⚡ Result of the Curse
This curse later came true:
Dasharatha was separated from his beloved son Rama when Rama was sent into exile.
Unable to bear the grief, Dasharatha died in sorrow, fulfilling the curse.