Shloka 2.26.7
अयोध्याकाण्डे षड्विंशः सर्गः — Rama’s Departure and Sita’s Questions; Disclosure of Exile and Counsel on Courtly Conduct
तां दृष्ट्वा स हि धर्मात्मा न शशाक मनोगतम्।तं शोकं राघवः सोढुं ततो विवृततां गतः।।।।
tāṃ dṛṣṭvā sa hi dharmātmā na śaśāka manogatam | taṃ śokaṃ rāghavaḥ soḍhuṃ tato vivṛtatāṃ gataḥ ||
Seeing her, that righteous-souled Rāghava could not endure the sorrow lodged within his heart; therefore it broke forth and became visible.
On seeing her, virtuous Rama could not contain the sorrow in his mind which manifested (through his external appearance).
Dharma is linked with satya (truthfulness): even a dharmic person may not conceal profound suffering; inner truth can surface outwardly, prompting honest confrontation of duty.
Rāma’s attempt to contain his grief fails when Sītā appears, and his sorrow becomes evident in his demeanor.
Rāma’s dharmic seriousness: his sorrow arises from moral conflict and duty, not personal pettiness.