Shloka 1.19.8
विश्वामित्रस्य यज्ञरक्षा-याचना (Visvamitra Requests Rama for Yajna-Protection)
स्वपुत्रं राजशार्दूल रामं सत्यपराक्रमम्।।।।काकपक्षधरं शूरं ज्येष्ठं मे दातुमर्हसि।
iti hṛdayamano-vidāraṇaṃ munivacanaṃ tad atīva śuśruvān | narapatir abhavan mahāṃs tadā vyathitamanāḥ pracacāla cāsanāt ||
Hearing thus the sage’s words—words that tore at heart and mind—the great king became deeply agitated, and he shook, as though slipping from his throne.
O tiger among kings! it is befitting of you to entrust your eldest son Rama to me who is valiant, young (having side-locks of hair) and true to his prowess.
The verse captures the tension between personal attachment and duty: dharma often demands painful choices, and truthfulness to one’s promise can distress even a great king.
After hearing Viśvāmitra’s heart-rending request (to entrust Rāma), Daśaratha becomes mentally shaken and physically unsteady on his throne.
Daśaratha’s seriousness about duty and promise is implied by his shock; his inner conflict highlights how weighty dharmic obligations can be.