Shloka 2.19.27

एकोनविंशः सर्गः (Sarga 19): Rāma’s Unshaken Acceptance of Exile and Kaikeyī’s Urgency

Devanagari script

स रामस्य वचश्श्रृत्वा भृशं दुःखहतः पिता।शोकादशक्नुवन्वकतुं प्ररुरोद महास्वनम्।।2.19.27।।

Transliteration

sa rāmasya vacaḥ śrutvā bhṛśaṃ duḥkhahataḥ pitā | śokād aśaknuvan vaktuṃ praruroda mahāsvanam ||2.19.27||

Translation

Hearing Rāma’s words, the father—struck down by intense grief—unable to speak from sorrow, cried out in a loud voice.

Context

Father (Dasaratha), too tormented with grief to speak cried out loudly on hearing the words of Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśaratha

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The verse highlights the human cost of dharma-bound promises: truth must be upheld even when it brings profound suffering.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha reacts to Rāma’s acceptance of exile, overwhelmed by grief and unable to respond verbally.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s resolve indirectly underscores Daśaratha’s tragic burden of keeping his pledged word.