Shloka 2.63.36
दशरथस्य शोकानुचिन्तनं शब्धवेधि-दोषस्मरणं च (Daśaratha’s grief, karmic reflection, and the remembered ‘śabdavedhī’ misdeed)
तां गिरं करुणां श्रुत्वा मम धर्मानुकाङ्क्षिणः।कराभ्यां सशरं चापं व्यथितस्यापतद्भुवि।।2.63.36।।
tāṃ giraṃ karuṇāṃ śrutvā mama dharmānukāṅkṣiṇaḥ | karābhyāṃ saśaraṃ cāpaṃ vyathitasyāpatad bhuvi || 2.63.36 ||
Hearing that pitiful cry, and being anxious for righteousness, I—shaken with distress—let my bow fall from my hands, with the arrow, onto the ground.
On hearing the piteous voice the bow and arrow dropped from my (trembling) hands since I was keen on following the righteous path.
Dharma is shown as immediate moral awakening: upon realizing possible wrongful harm, one must stop, reflect, and restrain further violence.
Daśaratha recalls the moment he heard the wounded ascetic youth’s voice; the shock makes him drop his weapon.
Conscience and repentance: the king’s inner commitment to dharma surfaces as fear of having committed an unrighteous act.