Valmiki Ramayana 2.18.5-6: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 18, Shlokas 5-6
अष्टादशः सर्गः · Kaikeyī Discloses the Boons: Exile to Daṇḍaka and Bharata’s Consecration
इन्द्रियैरप्रहृष्टैस्तं शोकसन्तापकर्शितम् ।
निश्श्वसन्तं महाराजं व्यथिताकुलचेतसम् ॥५॥
ऊर्मिमालिनमक्षोभ्यं क्षुभ्यन्तमिव सागरम् ।
उपप्लुतमिवादित्यमुक्तानृतमृषिं यथा ॥६॥
indriyair aprahṛṣṭais taṁ śokasantāpakarśitam |
niśśvasantaṁ mahārājaṁ vyathitākulacetasam ||5||
ūrmimālinam akṣobhyaṁ kṣubhyantam iva sāgaram |
upaplutaṁ ivādityam uktānṛtam ṛṣiṁ yathā ||6||
राजा के चेहरे पर खुशी नहीं थी। दुख ने उसे थक कर दिया था। वो तेज़-तेज़ साँस ले रहा था, उसका दिमाग घबरा रहा था। नॉर्मल में वो बिल्कुल शांत रहता था, पर अब समुंदर की तरह हिल रहा था। जैसे सूरज ग्रहण में अंधेरा हो जाता है। जैसे कोई रिशि झूठ बोल के गिर जाता है।
Maharaja (Dasaratha) with his senses dulled had become emaciated due to sorrow and suffering. With an agitated and troubled mind, he was breathing heavily. Although unshakable, he looked agitated like an ocean with successive rows of waves, like the Sun in eclipse, like an ascetic who has uttered falsehood.
FAQs
The verse highlights the ethical cost of departing from satya: inner turmoil manifests outwardly, and even a powerful ruler is undone when truth and duty are compromised.
Daśaratha is shown physically and mentally shattered as he faces the consequences of the boons promised to Kaikeyī and the impending separation from Rāma.
By contrast, the verse underscores the ideal of steadfastness in truth—implied through the king’s suffering when that steadiness is lost.
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