Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 37
दशरथस्य शोकानुचिन्तनं शब्धवेधि-दोषस्मरणं च
Daśaratha’s grief, karmic reflection, and the remembered ‘śabdavedhī’ misdeed
तस्याहं करुणं श्रुत्वा निशि लालवतो बहु।सम्भ्रान्त श्शोकवेगेन भृशमासं विचेतनः।।2.63.37।।
tasyāhaṃ karuṇaṃ śrutvā niśi lālavato bahu | sambhrāntaḥ śokavegena bhṛśam āsaṃ vicetanaḥ || 2.63.37 ||
रात्री त्याचा करुण विलाप वारंवार ऐकून मी शोकाच्या वेगाने घाबरलो आणि अत्यंत व्याकुळ होऊन जणू शुद्ध हरपल्यासारखा झालो।
Having heard his pathetic lamentations at night, I was extremely frightened by the force of grief and stood bewildered.
FAQs
The verse illustrates that adharma produces inner turmoil: moral error is not only social harm but also a disruption of one’s own mental and ethical equilibrium.
Daśaratha recounts his immediate reaction after hearing the wounded youth’s cries in the dark forest.
Moral sensitivity: the king is not indifferent to suffering; his shock indicates recognition of wrongdoing.