Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 24, Shloka 24
कौशल्यारामसंवादः
Kausalya–Rama Dialogue on Exile-Dharma
दारुणश्चाप्ययं शोको यथैनं न विनाशयेत्।राज्ञो वृद्धस्य सततं हितं चर समाहिता।।2.24.24।।
dāruṇaś cāpy ayaṃ śoko yathainaṃ na vināśayet | rājño vṛddhasya satataṃ hitaṃ cara samāhitā || 2.24.24 ||
এই শোক অত্যন্ত দারুণ—এমনভাবে আচরণ করো যেন তা তাঁকে বিনাশ না করে। স্থিরচিত্তে বৃদ্ধ রাজার সর্বদা মঙ্গল সাধন করো।
See that the old king does not succumb to this terrible grief. Serve him with a composed mind.
FAQs
It teaches dharma as steady service (sevā) in crisis: one must respond to suffering not with collapse, but with composed, beneficial action for those dependent and vulnerable.
Rāma anticipates Daśaratha’s intense grief and urges Kauśalyā to act steadily to protect the king’s health.
Composure (samādhāna/samāhita-citta) and practical compassion—virtues required to uphold dharma amid tragedy.