Shloka 13

अयोध्याकाण्डे अष्टत्रिंशः सर्गः

Sita in Bark Garments; Public Outcry and Dasaratha’s Lament

Devanagari script

इतीव राजा विलपन्महात्माशोकस्य नान्तं स ददर्श किञ्चित्।भृशातुरत्वाच्च पपात भूमौतेनैव पुत्रव्यसनेन मग्नः।।।।

Transliteration

itīva rājā vilapan mahātmā śokasya nāntaṃ sa dadarśa kiñcit | bhṛśāturatvāc ca papāta bhūmau tenaiva putravyasanena magnaḥ || 2.38.13 ||

Translation

So klagend fand der großherzige König keinerlei Ende seines Kummers; von dem Unglück um seinen Sohn überwältigt und tief gequält, stürzte er zu Boden, in dieses Leid versunken.

Word by Word

इतिthus

इवas if

राजाthe king

विलपन्lamenting

महात्माthe noble-souled one

शोकस्यof grief

नnot

अन्तम्end

सःhe

ददर्शsaw/could see

किञ्चित्even a little

भृशातुरत्वात्because of extreme anguish

चand

पपातfell

भूमौon the ground

तेनby that

एवindeed/only

पुत्रव्यसनेनby the calamity concerning his son

मग्नःimmersed/overwhelmed

Context

The king could not see any end to his lamentation. Immersed in the grief of separation from his son and deeply tormented, he fell down on the ground.

Characters & Entities

Daśaratha

Rāma (implied by 'son')

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The verse underscores the tragic weight of dharma-bound choices: even when vows and duty are upheld, their consequences can break the human heart.

What is the narrative situation?

After confronting Kaikeyī and witnessing the exile’s reality, Daśaratha is consumed by sorrow and falls to the ground.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Paternal love and vulnerability: the king’s emotional collapse reveals the depth of his attachment to Rāma.