Shloka 2.42.35

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

Devanagari script

तं राममेवानुविचिन्तयन्तंसमीक्ष्य देवी शयने नरेन्द्रम्।उपोपविश्याधिकमार्तरूपाविनिश्वसन्ती विललाप कृच्छ्रम्।।।।

Transliteration

tac ca dṛṣṭvā mahārājo bhujam udyamya vīryavān | uccaiḥ-svareṇa cukrośa hā rāghava jahāsi mām ||

Translation

Seeing that, the valiant great king raised his arms and cried out in a loud voice: “Alas, Rāghava! You have abandoned me!”

Context

Having seen the king in bed brooding over Rama, the queen, (Kausalya), sitting by his side, sighed and lamented, deeply anguished.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē dvicatvāriṅśassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the fortysecond sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Rāma (Rāghava)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the human cost of dharma: a righteous act (Rāma’s obedience to truth and duty) can still feel like abandonment to loved ones; dharma is not sentimental comfort, but principled action.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha, devastated by the empty palace and Rāma’s departure, cries out to his absent son as if he could still hear him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s intense paternal love; by contrast, Rāma’s disciplined adherence to duty is the unseen cause of this lament.