Shloka 2.42.22

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

Devanagari script

इत्येवं विलपन् राजा जनौघेनाभिसंवृतः।अपस्नात इवारिष्टं प्रविवेश पुरोत्तमम्।।।।

Transliteration

ity evaṃ vilapan rājā janaughenābhisaṃvṛtaḥ |

apasnāta ivāriṣṭaṃ praviveśa purottamam ||

Translation

Lamenting thus, the king—hemmed in by throngs of people—entered the foremost of cities, like one who has taken an inauspicious bath, as though marked by impending calamity.

Context

Thus the king, who looked like one after the inauspicious (funeral) bath, surroundedby streams of people entered the most beautiful city (Ayodhya) which portended misfortune.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Ayodhyā

FAQs

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

A ruler’s private unrighteous crisis becomes a public wound: dharma links king and kingdom, so the monarch’s moral and emotional collapse signals disorder for society.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha returns into Ayodhyā after the irreversible decision of Rāma’s exile, and the city’s mood mirrors the king’s grief.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The people’s solidarity and concern are emphasized—they gather around the king, reflecting civic loyalty and shared sorrow.