Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 24
अयोध्याकाण्डे त्रयोदशः सर्गः | Kaikeyi Presses the Boons; Dasaratha’s Lament and Collapse
विशुद्धभावस्य सुदुष्टभावाताम्रेक्षणस्याश्रुकलस्य राज्ञः।श्रुत्वा विचित्रं करुणं विलापंभर्तुर्नृशंसा न चकार वाक्यम्।।।।
viśuddha-bhāvasya suduṣṭa-bhāvā tāmrīkṣaṇasyāśru-kalasya rājñaḥ | śrutvā vicitraṃ karuṇaṃ vilāpaṃ bhartur nṛśaṃsā na cakāra vākyam ||
தூய உள்ளம் கொண்ட அரசன்—கண்கள் சிவந்து கண்ணீரால் நிறைந்தவன்—பலவிதமாக இரங்கிக் கதறியதை கேட்டும், தீய எண்ணமுடைய அந்தக் கடுஞ்சித்தப் பெண் கணவனின் சொல்லை ஏற்கவில்லை.
The king with a clean heart, whose eyes had been rendered red with weeping wailed piteously. Even after hearing it, that malicious woman full of wicked thoughts did not act upon his word.
FAQs
Dharma is contrasted with adharma through compassion: refusing a righteous plea despite evident suffering is portrayed as moral hardness.
Daśaratha weeps and pleads; Kaikeyī remains unmoved and does not accept his request.
Daśaratha’s sincerity and emotional truthfulness versus Kaikeyī’s lack of compassion.