Shloka 2.12.88
द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse (Ayodhya Kanda 12)
राघवे हि वनं प्राप्ते सर्वलोकस्य धिक्कृतम्।।।।मृत्युरक्षमणीयं मां नयिष्यति यमक्षयम्।
rāghave hi vanaṃ prāpte sarvalokasya dhikkṛtam | mṛtyur akṣamaṇīyaṃ māṃ nayiṣyati yamakṣayam ||
If Rāghava reaches the forest, and I am scorned by all the world, unforgiven, then Death will lead me to Yama’s realm.
If Rama goes to the forest, the god of death will conduct me to his abode, for condemned by the entire world, I shall not be forgiven (even by Yama).
A king’s moral accountability: Daśaratha fears public condemnation and karmic consequence if he becomes the cause of the righteous heir’s exile.
Daśaratha foresees that sending Rāma away will bring him unbearable shame and grief, culminating in death.
Daśaratha’s awareness of moral consequence (loka-nindā and inner guilt), even amid weakness and compulsion.