Shloka 2.12.4
द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse (Ayodhya Kanda 12)
इति सञ्चिन्त्य तद्राजा नाध्यगच्छत्तदासुखम्।प्रतिलभ्य चिरात्संज्ञां कैकेयीवाक्यताडितः।।2.12.3।।व्यथितो विक्लबश्चैव व्याघ्रीं दृष्ट्वा यथा मृगः।असंवृतायामासीनो जगत्यां दीर्घमुच्छवसन्।।2.12.4।।मण्डले पन्नगो रुद्धो मन्त्रैरिव महाविषः।अहो धिगिति सामर्षो वाचमुक्त्वा नराधिपः।।2.12.5।।मोहमापेदिवान्भूय श्शोकोपहतचेतनः।
vyathito viklabaś caiva vyāghrīṃ dṛṣṭvā yathā mṛgaḥ |
asaṃvṛtāyām āsīno jagatyāṃ dīrgham ucchvasan || 2.12.4 ||
Shaken and helpless—like a deer on seeing a tigress—he sat down on the bare floor, drawing long, heavy breaths.
The King absorbed in such thoughts did not get solace. He was startled and distressed like a deer beholding a tigress. He had long lost the senses struck by the (ruthless) words of Kaikeyi. He sank down upon the bare floor heaving deep sighs like a venomous serpent lying confined in a circle. 'What a pity' said the king with indignation and with his senses overwhelmed by sorrow fell into a stupor again.
The verse indirectly highlights rājadharma under crisis: a king must still uphold truth and duty even when emotionally shattered; Daśaratha’s bodily collapse shows the human cost of being bound by satya (a pledged word).
After being struck by Kaikeyī’s harsh demand (boons), Daśaratha loses composure and sinks to the floor, overwhelmed.
Not a virtue in action but a tragic consequence of virtue: Daśaratha’s commitment to truthfulness and past promises renders him helpless, revealing the burden of integrity.