Valmiki Ramayana 2.63.3: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 3
दशरथस्य शोकानुचिन्तनं शब्धवेधि-दोषस्मरणं च
Daśaratha’s grief, karmic reflection, and the remembered ‘śabdavedhī’ misdeed
सभार्ये निर्गते रामे कौसल्यां कोशलेश्वरः ।
विवक्षुरसितापाङ्गां स्मृत्वा दुष्कृतमात्मनः ॥३॥
sabhārye nirgate rāme kausalyāṃ kośaleśvaraḥ |
vivakṣur asitāpāṅgāṃ smṛtvā duṣkṛtam ātmanaḥ ||3||
सभार्ये निर्गते रामे कौसल्यां कोशलेश्वरः।विवक्षुरसितापाङ्गां स्मृत्वा दुष्कृतमात्मनः॥
After Rama had left along with his wife the king of Kosala (Dasaratha) recollected his former evil deed and wanted to narrate it to the dark-eyed Kausalya.
FAQs
Dharma here is moral accountability: a ruler must acknowledge wrongdoing rather than conceal it, especially when its consequences harm others.
After Rāma leaves for exile with Sītā, Daśaratha is overwhelmed by grief and recalls an earlier sin, preparing to narrate it to Kausalyā.
Truthfulness through confession (satya-vāda) and remorse—Daśaratha’s willingness to articulate his fault.
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