Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 42, Shloka 3
द्विचत्वारिंशः सर्गः — दशरथस्य शोक-विलापः तथा कौशल्यागृह-प्रवेशः
Dasaratha’s Lament and Return to Kausalya’s Apartments
न पश्यति रजोऽप्यस्य यदा रामस्य भूमिपः।तदाऽऽर्तश्च विषण्णश्च पपात धरणीतले।।।।
na paśyati rajo 'py asya yadā rāmasya bhūmipaḥ |
tadā 'rtaś ca viṣaṇṇaś ca papāta dharaṇītale ||
Quando o rei não pôde ver sequer a poeira levantada por Rāma, então, tomado de aflição e abatido, caiu por terra.
When the king could no longer see even the dust, he fell on the ground, despondent and grief- stricken.
FAQs
The verse illustrates the karmic and ethical weight of decisions: once dharma is set aside and the righteous are sent away, suffering arises immediately and uncontrollably.
As Rāma departs, Daśaratha watches until even the dust is no longer visible; the finality breaks him and he collapses.
Rāma’s belovedness and moral centrality are emphasized indirectly—Daśaratha’s collapse shows how integral Rāma is to his life and to the kingdom’s stability.