Valmiki Ramayana 2.42.13 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 42, Shloka 13
द्विचत्वारिंशः सर्गः — दशरथस्य शोक-विलापः तथा कौशल्यागृह-प्रवेशः
Dasaratha’s Lament and Return to Kausalya’s Apartments
विललाप च दुःखार्तः प्रियं पुत्रमनुस्मरन्।नगरान्तमनुप्राप्तं बुध्वा पुत्रमथाब्रवीत्।।।।
vilalāpa ca duḥkhārtaḥ priyaṃ putram anusmaran | nagarāntam anuprāptaṃ budhvā putram athābravīt ||
Tormented by sorrow, he lamented, remembering his beloved son; and realizing that his son had reached the city’s boundary, he then spoke.
The grief-stricken king began to lament thinking of his beloved son, and (suddenly) realizing that his son had crossed the limits of the city, said:
FAQs
Dharma is shown as responsibility bound to reality: the king recognizes the irreversible step (crossing the city सीमा), and must now respond within dharmic limits rather than mere impulse.
Daśaratha realizes Rāma has gone beyond Ayodhyā’s outskirts; overwhelmed, he begins speaking aloud in lament.
Awareness and accountability—Daśaratha’s recognition of the moment marks the gravity of the exile and his own helplessness.
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