Shloka 2.59.28
एकोनषष्ठितमः सर्गः (Sarga 59): सुमन्त्रवाक्यं, अयोध्याविषादः, दाशरथिशोकसागरः
वृत्तदंष्ट्रो महेष्वासः क्वासौ लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः।यदि जीवामि साध्वेनं पश्येयं सीतया सह।।2.59.28।।
vṛttadaṃṣṭro maheṣvāsaḥ kvāsau lakṣmaṇapūrvajaḥ | yadi jīvāmi sādhv enaṃ paśyeyaṃ sītayā saha || 2.59.28 ||
Where is that great archer with well-formed teeth—the elder brother of Lakṣmaṇa? If I may yet live, may I behold him clearly, together with Sītā.
Where is that Rama, elder brother to Lakshmana who has well-shaped teeth and wields a mighty bow? If I can see him along with Sita I will survive.
It underscores the dharmic ideal of family cohesion and rightful companionship—Daśaratha yearns to see Rāma together with Sītā, affirming the sanctity of household bonds even amid political upheaval.
Daśaratha calls out for Rāma, describing him with affectionate epithets, and says that seeing Rāma with Sītā is his only hope of survival.
Rāma’s excellence (as a great archer) and the ideal of marital togetherness (Rāma with Sītā), both presented as life-giving to the grieving father.