Shloka 2.42.26

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

Devanagari script

अथ गद्गदशब्दस्तु विलपन्मनुजाधिपः।उवाच मृदुमन्दार्थं वचनं दीनमस्वरम्।।।।

Transliteration

atha gadgadaśabdas tu vilapan manujādhipaḥ |

uvāca mṛdu mandārthaṃ vacanaṃ dīnam asvaram ||

Translation

Then the lord of men, lamenting with a voice choked in his throat, spoke words gentle yet faint—muted in meaning and in sound, sorrowful and feeble.

Context

Thereupon Dasaratha lamenting with his throat choked addressed (his attendants) in a low, feeble, melancholic, gentle voice:

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

It underscores human accountability within dharma: even a king is not above emotional consequence when truth and duty have been wounded by prior actions.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha, overwhelmed after Rāma’s exile, is physically and emotionally broken and begins to give instructions to attendants.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The realism of remorse and vulnerability is emphasized—power does not protect one from the moral weight of decisions.