Shloka 2.41.8

अयोध्यायाः शोकप्रकम्पः (Ayodhya’s Tremor of Grief and Omens)

Devanagari script

स तमन्तः पुरे घोरमार्तशब्दं महीपतिः।पुत्रशोकाभिसन्तप्तः श्रुत्वा चासीत्सुदुःखितः।।2.41.8।।

Transliteration

sa tam antaḥpure ghoraṃ ārtaśabdaṃ mahīpatiḥ |

putraśokābhisantaptaḥ śrutvā cāsīt suduḥkhitaḥ || 2.41.8 ||

Translation

Hearing that dreadful wailing within the inner palace, the king—already scorched by grief for his son—became even more distressed.

Context

Upon hearing the dreadful wailing from the inner apartments of the palace, the king already devasted at the separation from his son, grew even more distressed.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• antaḥpura (inner palace)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

It reveals the human cost when dharma is experienced as conflicting duties—Daśaratha’s obligation to keep a promise leads to unbearable personal and familial suffering.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha hears the queens’ loud lamentation from within the palace and his grief intensifies.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s inner struggle around duty and consequence, showing the weight of royal decisions and vowed commitments.