Shloka 2.42.17

द्विचत्वारिंशः सर्गः — दशरथस्य शोक-विलापः तथा कौशल्यागृह-प्रवेशः (Dasaratha’s Lament and Return to Kausalya’s Apartments)

Devanagari script

उत्थास्यति च मेदिन्याः कृपणः पांसुकुण्ठितः।विनिश्श्वसन् प्रस्रवणात्करेणूनामिवर्षभः।।।।

Transliteration

utthāsyati ca medinyāḥ kṛpaṇaḥ pāṃsukuṇṭhitaḥ | viniśśvasan prasravaṇāt kareṇūnām ivarṣabhaḥ ||

Translation

That pitiable Rāma, crusted with dust, will rise up from the ground, heaving sighs—like a mighty bull-elephant rising at Prasravaṇa.

Context

That unfortunate Rama, having been covered with dust, will get up from the ground sighing like a bull elephant rising from mount Prasravana.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Rāma
• Prasravaṇa (mountain)

FAQs

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

It reflects compassion within dharma: even when exile is ‘lawful’ by vows, the righteous heart recognizes suffering and responds with empathy rather than cold justification.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha imagines Rāma enduring physical hardship—dust, ground-sleeping—and compares his rising to an elephant’s powerful movement.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s strength under hardship (dhairya) is implied, while Daśaratha’s compassion is explicit.