Shloka 1.19.20
विश्वामित्रस्य यज्ञरक्षा-याचना (Visvamitra Requests Rama for Yajna-Protection)
स तन्निशम्य राजेन्द्रो विश्वामित्रवचश्शुभम्।।।।शोकमभ्यगमत्तीव्रं व्यषीदत भयान्वित:।
sa tan niśamya rājendro viśvāmitra-vacaḥ śubham |
śokam abhyagamat tīvraṃ vyaṣīdata bhayānvitaḥ ||
Hearing Viśvāmitra’s auspicious words, the king was seized by intense grief; overcome by fear, he became despondent.
Having listened to those auspicious words of Viswamitra, the king among kings, (Dasaratha) experienced intense grief out of fear. He became despondent.
Even righteous people experience inner conflict; dharma often requires moving through fear and grief without abandoning duty.
After Viśvāmitra’s request and assurances, Daśaratha reacts emotionally—fearful of danger to Rāma and sorrowful at parting.
Daśaratha’s deep parental love (and the trial it creates for rāja-dharma), highlighting the human cost of righteous decisions.