Valmiki Ramayana 2.18.39: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 39
अष्टादशः सर्गः · Kaikeyī Discloses the Boons: Exile to Daṇḍaka and Bharata’s Consecration
एतेन त्वां नरेन्द्रोऽयं कारुण्येन समाप्लुतः ।
शोकसंक्लिष्ट वदनो न शक्नोति निरीक्षितुम् ॥३९॥
etena tvāṁ narendro ’yaṁ kāruṇyena samāplutaḥ |
śokasaṅkliṣṭavadano na śakn̄oti nirīkṣitum ||39||
このゆえに王は憐れみに満ち、悲しみに顔を曇らせて、そなたを見つめることに耐えられぬのだ。
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.
FAQs
Dharma here is the moral burden of difficult vows: compassion can paralyze action, yet duty still demands a righteous resolution.
Kaikeyī interprets Daśaratha’s grief-stricken silence and inability to meet Rāma’s gaze.
Daśaratha’s paternal love and compassion—though shown as emotionally overwhelming.
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