Valmiki Ramayana 2.58.3 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 58, Shloka 3
अष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः (Sarga 58)
Daśaratha Questions Sumantra; Messages from the Forest Threshold
अथ सूतो महाराजं कृताञ्जलिरुपस्थितः।राममेवानुशोचन्तं दुःखशोकसमन्वितम्।।2.58.2।।वृद्धं परमसन्तप्तं नवग्रहमिव द्विपम्।विनिश्वसन्तं ध्यायन्तमस्वस्थ मिव कुङञरम्।।2.58.3।।
atha sūto mahārājaṃ kṛtāñjalir upasthitaḥ | rāmam evānuśocantaṃ duḥkhaśokasamanvitam ||
vṛddhaṃ paramasantaptaṃ navagraham iva dvipam | viniśvasantaṃ dhyāyantam asvastham iva kuñjaram ||
Da trat der Wagenlenker mit gefalteten Händen ehrerbietig vor den großen König. Der greise Herrscher, von Kummer und Schmerz überwältigt, beklagte allein Rāma; er sann nach und seufzte tief, wie ein frisch gefangener, kranker Elefant.
Then the charioteer with folded palms approached the king who, deeply afflicted with grief and pain, was brooding over Rama alone. Aged Dasaratha was heaving deep sighs like a newlycaptured, indisposed elephant.
FAQs
It highlights the human cost when dharma and royal decisions fracture family bonds—grief becomes a consequence of moral and political rupture.
Sumantra comes to Daśaratha, who is devastated and continually thinking of Rāma after the exile decision.
Daśaratha’s deep paternal attachment (though painful here), showing the epic’s realism about emotion within dharmic crises.
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