Shloka 2.42.3
द्विचत्वारिंशः सर्गः — दशरथस्य शोक-विलापः तथा कौशल्यागृह-प्रवेशः (Dasaratha’s Lament and Return to Kausalya’s Apartments)
न पश्यति रजोऽप्यस्य यदा रामस्य भूमिपः।तदाऽऽर्तश्च विषण्णश्च पपात धरणीतले।।।।
na paśyati rajo 'py asya yadā rāmasya bhūmipaḥ |
tadā 'rtaś ca viṣaṇṇaś ca papāta dharaṇītale ||
When the king could not see even the dust raised by Rāma, then—stricken with anguish and sunk in despair—he fell upon the ground.
When the king could no longer see even the dust, he fell on the ground, despondent and grief- stricken.
The verse illustrates the karmic and ethical weight of decisions: once dharma is set aside and the righteous are sent away, suffering arises immediately and uncontrollably.
As Rāma departs, Daśaratha watches until even the dust is no longer visible; the finality breaks him and he collapses.
Rāma’s belovedness and moral centrality are emphasized indirectly—Daśaratha’s collapse shows how integral Rāma is to his life and to the kingdom’s stability.