Shloka 2.38.5
अयोध्याकाण्डे अष्टत्रिंशः सर्गः — Sita in Bark Garments; Public Outcry and Dasaratha’s Lament
इयं हि कस्यापकरोति किञ्चित्तपस्विनी राजवरस्य कन्या।या चीरमासाद्य जनस्य मध्येस्थिता विसंज्ञाश्रमणीव काचित्।।।।
iyaṃ hi kasyāpakaroti kiñcit tapasvinī rājavarasya kanyā | yā cīram āsādya janasya madhye sthitā visaṃjñā śramaṇīva kācit ||
To whom has she ever done the slightest harm—she, the austere princess, daughter of the best of kings—who, having donned bark-cloth, stands among the people like some senseless wandering nun?
Sita, daughter of Janaka, the greatest among kings, stands amidst people wearing bark garment like an ascetic with her senses switched off. To whom and what harm has she done?
Dharma rejects harming the blameless: the verse argues that righteousness requires protecting innocents from undeserved suffering and public humiliation.
Daśaratha points to Sītā’s stunned presence in bark-cloth among the crowd and questions what wrongdoing could justify such treatment.
Moral indignation grounded in justice: Daśaratha’s conscience protests the extension of exile’s hardship onto Sītā.