Shloka 2.12.105
द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse (Ayodhya Kanda 12)
अहं पुनर्देवकुमाररूपमलङ्कृतं तं सुतमाव्रजन्तम्।नन्दामि पश्यन्नपि दर्शनेन भवामि दृष्ट्वैव च पुनर्युवेव।।।।
ahaṃ punar devakumāra-rūpam alaṅkṛtaṃ taṃ sutam āvrajantam | nandāmi paśyann api darśanenā bhavāmi dṛṣṭvaiva ca punar yuv eva ||
And I—whenever I see that son of mine, handsome as a celestial youth and splendidly adorned, approaching—rejoice; by the mere sight of him I become young again, as it were.
When I see my son, handsome and welladorned like the son of a celestial deity, coming towards me, I rejoice. Even his very sight makes me grow young again.
Dharma is interwoven with legitimate human bonds: the verse foregrounds the king’s parental affection, which makes the demanded injustice feel even more grievous—setting up the later, painful choice between love and pledged truth.
Daśaratha describes how Rama’s very presence renews his joy and vitality, intensifying his refusal to accept Rama’s exile.
Rama’s auspicious, radiant presence (saubhāgya/śrī) and Daśaratha’s deep, heartfelt affection.