Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 19, Shloka 27
एकोनविंशः सर्गः (Sarga 19): Rāma’s Unshaken Acceptance of Exile and Kaikeyī’s Urgency
स रामस्य वचश्श्रृत्वा भृशं दुःखहतः पिता।शोकादशक्नुवन्वकतुं प्ररुरोद महास्वनम्।।2.19.27।।
sa rāmasya vacaḥ śrutvā bhṛśaṃ duḥkhahataḥ pitā | śokād aśaknuvan vaktuṃ praruroda mahāsvanam ||2.19.27||
Hearing Rāma’s words, the father—struck down by intense grief—unable to speak from sorrow, cried out in a loud voice.
Father (Dasaratha), too tormented with grief to speak cried out loudly on hearing the words of Rama.
FAQs
The verse highlights the human cost of dharma-bound promises: truth must be upheld even when it brings profound suffering.
Daśaratha reacts to Rāma’s acceptance of exile, overwhelmed by grief and unable to respond verbally.
Rāma’s resolve indirectly underscores Daśaratha’s tragic burden of keeping his pledged word.