Shloka 1.70.30
वंशवर्णनम् तथा विवाहप्रार्थना — Genealogy of the Ikshvaku Line and the Proposal for Marriage
द्वे चास्य भार्ये गर्भिण्यौ बभूवतुरिति श्रुतम्।।1.70.30।। एका गर्भविनाशाय सपत्न्यै सगरं ददौ।
dve cāsya bhārye garbhiṇyau babhūvatur iti śrutam | ekā garbha-vināśāya sapatnyai sagaraṁ dadau || 1.70.30 ||
It is heard that his two wives became pregnant. One, seeking to destroy the embryo, gave poison to her co-wife.
It is said that his (Asita's) two wives were pregnant. One gave food mixed with poison to the other with the intention of destroying her embryo.
The verse warns against adharma born of envy: harming an unborn child violates compassion and truth-based duty within the household, undermining both family and social dharma.
During Asita’s exile-period narrative, a domestic conflict arises between his pregnant wives, leading to an attempted destruction of a pregnancy.
By contrast (through its violation), the virtue emphasized is ahiṁsā and dayā (non-harm and compassion), foundational to dharma.