Shravana Kumar was a young hermit who was very devoted to his parents. His parents were old and blind, so Shravana spent his time taking care of their needs.

One day, Shravana Kumar’s father called him and said, “Son, we are getting old and weak. All we want to do in life now is go on a pilgrimage to various places of worship and pray.”

Shravana Kumar said, “Yes, father. We will do as you wish.”

But he thought, “My parents are blind. How can I take them to different places and fulfil their wish?”

After much consideration, he found a way. He created a big weighing balance with two huge baskets hanging on either end of a long bamboo pole.

He got his parents to sit on each basket and held the bamboo pole on his shoulders. He carried them everywhere they wanted to go in this manner.

One day, as they passed by a forest, Shravana Kumar’s mother said, “Shravana, I am very thirsty. Get me some water to drink.”

“Sure, mother. I will leave you to rest under this tree while I go in search of some water,” said Shravana Kumar. He took an empty pitcher along with him.

After walking some distance, Shravana Kumar found the river Sarayu. He then began to fill the pitcher with water.

Meanwhile, Dasharatha, prince of Ayodhya, had come hunting in the forest. Dasharatha was an archer par excellence. His aim was so good that all he needed was the sound of his target. He could hit the target without seeing it, which he frequently enjoyed practising. Unfortunately, with arrogance in his skills, there was also ignorance that made him incapable of recognising the consequences of his actions.

Prince Dasharatha had come to the banks of river Saraya to hunt the wild animals. As was his habit, he hid behind a dense bush, waiting for an animal to come to drink the water from the river. As he waited, he heard the sound of a creature drinking water.

“Is it a buffalo or an elephant? Let me shoot and find out,” thought Dasharatha. He released the arrow from his bow, and he listened in horror to the sound of a man screaming, followed by a splash in the water.

“Oh, God! What have I done,” he thought as he scrambled through the bushes to the river bank. He was horrified to find a young hermit lying on the shallow water with an arrow to his chest.

“Why did you hurt me, sir? I, who never hurt anyone, have been hurt in the vilest way possible. Now, who will take care of my parents? They are old and blind, and I am their only support,” cried Shravana in anguish.

Dasharatha bowed his head in shame, unable to defend himself against the accusation.

“Take this water to my parents. Do not tell them what happened to me before they quench their thirst,” said Shravana Kumar struggling to breathe.

“I am so sorry,” lamented Dasharatha over and over again as he watched Shravana Kumar breathe his last.

Dasharatha took the pitcher of water and went in search of Shravana’s parents. As he reached them, Shravana’s father said, “Son, why are you so late? We have been dying of thirst here.”

When their son didn’t respond, Shravana’s parents grew worried. They said, “What is wrong, son? Why are you not replying?”

Not wanting to lie, Dasharatha said, “I am Dasharatha, prince of Ayodhya. I unknowingly shot your son, assuming he was an animal and killed him. As he lay dying, he asked me to bring you the water.”

Shravana Kumar’s parents were heartbroken. They cursed Dasharatha saying, “You killed a young hermit for no fault of his but sheer pleasure. Although you did it unknowingly, you have taken the only source of our support. Just like we are dying here helpless and alone, one day, you will also die in despair after parting from your son.”

They then passed away without drinking the water.

After a few years, Dasharatha became the King of Ayodhya. When his favourite son Rama, the seventh Avatar of Lord Vishnu, went into exile for fourteen years, Dasharatha felt the same grief that Shravana Kumar’s parents felt. Separated from his son, he died in despair and thus fulfilling the curse.

Author’s Note:

In the Ayodhya Kanda section of Valmiki Ramayana, Dasharatha narrates Shravana Kumar’s story to his wife after Rama, Sita and Lakshmana go on exile.

Shravana Kumar is an excellent example of devotion to parents.