Shloka 2.103.26
पिण्डदानदर्शनम् — The Queens Behold Rama’s Śrāddha Offering
पद्ममातपसन्तप्तं परिक्लिष्टमिवोत्पलम्।काञ्चनं रजसा ध्वस्तं क्लिष्टं चन्द्रमिवाम्बुदैः।।2.103.25।।मुखं ते प्रेक्ष्य मां शोको दहत्यग्निरिवाऽश्रयम्।भृशं मनसि वैदेहि व्यसनारणिसम्भवः।।2.103.26।।
mukhaṃ te prekṣya māṃ śoko dahaty agnir ivāśrayam | bhṛśaṃ manasi vaidehi vyasanāraṇi-sambhavaḥ || 2.103.26 ||
Seeing your face, O Vaidehī, sorrow burns me fiercely in my heart—like fire born of the arani-sticks of calamity, consuming even its own support.
O Sita, after looking at your countenance, which is like a lotus, scorched by the sunshine, or like a withered waterlily or gold defiled by dust or the Moon obscured by the clouds, the fire of sorrow is burning my mind. The grief in my mind is like fire kindled from the arani (sacrificial faggots) that consumes its own souree. (On a circular wood piece, a wooden stick is placed and churned to produce fire specially in sacrifices is called arani.)
Dharma is not cold correctness but shared responsibility: Kausalyā internalizes Sītā’s pain, showing that righteousness includes compassionate solidarity with those who suffer for dharma.
Continuing her lament, Kausalyā says Sītā’s appearance ignites unbearable grief within her, expressed through the arani-fire metaphor.
Deep empathy and maternal protectiveness—Kausalyā’s heart responds as if Sītā’s suffering were her own.