Shloka 2.38.12
अयोध्याकाण्डे अष्टत्रिंशः सर्गः — Sita in Bark Garments; Public Outcry and Dasaratha’s Lament
तत्त्वेतत्समतिक्रम्य निरयं गन्तुमिच्छसि।मैथिलीमपि या हि त्वमीक्षसे चीरवासिनीम्।।।।
tattvetat samatikramya nirayaṃ gantum icchasi | maithilīm api yā hi tvam īkṣase cīravāsinīm || 2.38.12 ||
“Transgressing even that limit, you now wish to go to hell—since you desire to see even Maithilī wearing bark cloth.”
Having exceeded all that, you want to behold Sita in bark garment and thereby, wish for hell.
Dharma warns against cruelty beyond necessity: delighting in another’s humiliation is treated as grave adharma with karmic consequence.
Daśaratha condemns Kaikeyī for not stopping at Rāma’s exile and for pressing further indignity upon Sītā.
Moral discernment: Daśaratha distinguishes between compelled duty (a vow) and gratuitous harm.