Shloka 2.12.83
द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse (Ayodhya Kanda 12)
बालिशो बत कामात्मा राजा दशरथो भृशम्।यः स्त्रीकृते प्रियं पुत्रं वनं प्रस्थापयिष्यति।।।।
bāliśo bata kāmātmā rājā daśaratho bhṛśam | yaḥ strīkṛte priyaṁ putraṁ vanaṁ prasthāpayiṣyati ||
“Alas, how utterly foolish and desire-driven is King Daśaratha,” they will say, “for a woman’s sake he is sending his beloved son to the forest.”
(They will say), 'Alas how utterly foolish and lustful is king Dasaratha who is sending his beloved son to the forest for the sake of a woman'.
It warns against kāma overpowering dharma: a ruler must not let private desire dictate decisions that harm justice and rightful succession.
Daśaratha imagines the public condemning him for exiling Rāma due to Kaikeyī’s demands.
The virtue emphasized is impartiality and steadiness in kingship—placing dharma above personal attachment.