अष्टादशः सर्गः
Kaikeyī Discloses the Boons: Exile to Daṇḍaka and Bharata’s Consecration
इन्द्रियैरप्रहृष्टैस्तं शोकसन्तापकर्शितम्।निश्श्वसन्तं महाराजं व्यथिताकुलचेतसम्।।।।ऊर्मिमालिनमक्षोभ्यं क्षुभ्यन्तमिव सागरम्।उपप्लुतमिवादित्यमुक्तानृतमृषिं यथा।।।।
indriyair aprahṛṣṭais taṁ śokasantāpakarśitam | niśśvasantaṁ mahārājaṁ vyathitākulacetasam || ūrmimālinam akṣobhyaṁ kṣubhyantam iva sāgaram | upaplutaṁ ivādityam uktānṛtam ṛṣiṁ yathā ||
Dengan indra yang tak lagi bersukacita, sang maharaja—terkikis oleh duka dan panasnya derita—menghela napas berat, batinnya guncang dan kacau. Walau pada hakikatnya tak tergoyahkan, ia tampak bergejolak bagaikan samudra bermahkota gelombang; laksana matahari yang tertutup gerhana; laksana seorang resi yang jatuh martabatnya karena mengucap dusta.
This is why the king with his face tortured by tears and (his heart) overwhelmed with compassion for you, is unable to look at you.
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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