Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 34, Shloka 3
रामदर्शनार्थं दारानयनम्
The Queens Summoned; Rama’s Leave-Taking and Dasaratha’s Collapse
उपरक्तमिवादित्यं भस्मच्छन्नमिवानलम्।तटाकमिव निस्तोयमपश्यज्जगतीपतिम्।।।।
uparaktam ivādityaṃ bhasmacchannam ivānalam |
taṭākam iva nistoyam apaśyaj jagatīpatim ||
उपरक्तमिवादित्यं भस्मच्छन्नमिवानलम्। तटाकमिव निस्तोयं जगतीपतिमपश्यत्॥
On seeing Rama, unruffled, waiting for his permission to proceed to the forest, the lord of the earth, king Dasaratha said:
FAQs
The verse frames the king’s inner collapse as a moral and emotional consequence of a dharmic crisis—when royal duty and truth-bound promises strain the heart, even a powerful ruler can appear 'eclipsed.'
Rāma sees Daśaratha in a weakened, lifeless state, foreshadowing the painful exchange about exile and truth-bound obligations.
Indirectly, Daśaratha’s truth-binding (satya) and sense of duty are implied as forces that, though righteous, weigh heavily upon him.