Shloka 2.38.9
अयोध्याकाण्डे अष्टत्रिंशः सर्गः — Sita in Bark Garments; Public Outcry and Dasaratha’s Lament
मृगीवोत्फुल्लनयना मृदुशीला तपस्वीनी।अपकारं कमिह ते करोति जनकात्मजा।।।।
mṛgīvotphullanayanā mṛduśīlā tapasvinī | apakāraṃ kam iha te karoti janakātmajā ||
What harm has Janaka’s daughter done to you here—she whose eyes are wide like a doe’s, gentle in nature, and worthy of compassion?
What wrong has the daughter of Janaka large-eyed like a doe, so gentle and worthy of compassion done to you?
The principle is non-injury to the innocent: dharma protects the gentle and blameless from being made collateral victims of another conflict.
Daśaratha continues his appeal, describing Sītā’s gentleness and questioning Kaikeyī’s justification for implicating her in exile.
Sītā’s gentleness and purity, presented as moral reasons she should not be subjected to hardship.