Shloka 2.38.8
अयोध्याकाण्डे अष्टत्रिंशः सर्गः — Sita in Bark Garments; Public Outcry and Dasaratha’s Lament
रामेण यदि ते पापे किञ्चित्कृतमशोभनम्।अपकारः क इह ते वैदेह्या दर्शितोऽधमे।।।।
rāmeṇa yadi te pāpe kiñcit kṛtam aśobhanam | apakāraḥ ka iha te vaidehyā darśito ’dhame ||
O sinful one, if Rāma has done you even some unbecoming act, tell me, wretch—what offence has Vaidehī ever shown toward you here?
O sinful woman! O wretch! Rama might have done something unbecoming to you, but what offence has Sita committed?
Dharma demands moral accountability: even if one claims injury from a person, it is unrighteous to transfer punishment onto another who is innocent.
Daśaratha confronts Kaikeyī: even granting her grievance against Rāma, he insists Sītā has committed no wrong to deserve hardship.
Daśaratha’s insistence on justice and proper attribution of fault.