Shloka 2.63.37
दशरथस्य शोकानुचिन्तनं शब्धवेधि-दोषस्मरणं च (Daśaratha’s grief, karmic reflection, and the remembered ‘śabdavedhī’ misdeed)
तस्याहं करुणं श्रुत्वा निशि लालवतो बहु।सम्भ्रान्त श्शोकवेगेन भृशमासं विचेतनः।।2.63.37।।
tasyāhaṃ karuṇaṃ śrutvā niśi lālavato bahu | sambhrāntaḥ śokavegena bhṛśam āsaṃ vicetanaḥ || 2.63.37 ||
Hearing his pitiful lament in the night, I was thrown into terror by the surge of grief and remained utterly bewildered, as if senseless.
Having heard his pathetic lamentations at night, I was extremely frightened by the force of grief and stood bewildered.
The verse illustrates that adharma produces inner turmoil: moral error is not only social harm but also a disruption of one’s own mental and ethical equilibrium.
Daśaratha recounts his immediate reaction after hearing the wounded youth’s cries in the dark forest.
Moral sensitivity: the king is not indifferent to suffering; his shock indicates recognition of wrongdoing.