Shloka 2.102.18
पितृमरणश्रवणं जलक्रिया च (Hearing of Daśaratha’s death and the libation rites at Mandākinī)
सा सीता स्वर्गतं श्रुत्वा श्वशुरं तं महानृपम्।नेत्राभ्यामश्रुपूर्णाभ्या शशाकेक्षितुं प्रियम्।।।।
sā sītā svargataṃ śrutvā śvaśuraṃ taṃ mahānṛpam |
netrābhyām aśru-pūrṇābhyāṃ na śaśākekṣituṃ priyam ||
Hearing that her father-in-law, the great king, had gone to heaven, Sītā—her eyes brimming with tears—could not look upon her beloved.
On hearing that her father-in-law, king Dasaratha, had attained heaven, Sita, her eyes filled with tears could not look at her husband in the face.
Dharma includes tenderness and empathy within the household: Sita’s grief reflects sincere respect for elders and the moral seriousness of familial loss.
Sita hears that Dasharatha has died and is so overwhelmed that she cannot raise her tear-filled eyes to Rama.
Sita’s compassion and reverence—she mourns her father-in-law as a true elder worthy of honor.