Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 59, Shloka 30
एकोनषष्ठितमः सर्गः (Sarga 59): सुमन्त्रवाक्यं, अयोध्याविषादः, दाशरथिशोकसागरः
अतो नु किं दुःखतरं सोऽहमिक्ष्वाकुनन्दनम्।इमामवस्थामापन्नो नेह पश्यामि राघवम्।।2.59.30।।
ato nu kiṃ duḥkhataraṃ so 'ham ikṣvākunandanaṃ | imām avasthām āpanno neha paśyāmi rāghavam || 2.59.30 ||
अतो नु किं दुःखतरं सोऽहमिक्ष्वाकुनन्दनम्। इमामवस्थामापन्नो नेह पश्यामि राघवम्॥
What else can be of greater sorrow to me who having reached this state, am still unable to see Rama?
FAQs
It shows the ethical realism of acknowledging suffering truthfully (satya) while implicitly valuing the righteous heir (Rāma) as the upholder of dynastic dharma.
Daśaratha, debilitated by grief, laments that despite his condition he still cannot see Rāma.
Rāma’s role as the ‘delight’ and moral center of the Ikṣvāku line; Daśaratha’s sincerity in grief.