Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 55
द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse
Ayodhya Kanda 12
नष्टचित्तो यथोन्मत्तो विपरीतो यथाऽतुरः।हृततेजा यथा सर्पो बभूव जगतीपतिः।।।।
naṣṭacitto yathonmatto viparīto yathāturaḥ |
hṛtatejā yathā sarpo babhūva jagatīpatiḥ ||
Der Herr der Erde wurde wie einer, dessen Geist verloren ist: wie ein Wahnsinniger, wie ein Kranker, der wider sich selbst handelt, wie eine Schlange, der Kraft und Glanz entzogen wurden.
Reflecting on the determination of the queen and her dreadful vow, the king sighed and cried, 'O Rama' and then fell down like a tree severed.
FAQs
Even a ruler is not beyond human fragility; dharma’s burden can overwhelm when circumstances force a clash between truth-keeping and justice, showing why vows must be made and invoked responsibly.
After collapsing, Daśaratha is described as mentally and physically undone by grief and shock.
The implied virtue is inner strength (dhairya); its loss here underscores the extremity of Daśaratha’s trial.