Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 37
दशरथस्य शोकानुचिन्तनं शब्धवेधि-दोषस्मरणं च
Daśaratha’s grief, karmic reflection, and the remembered ‘śabdavedhī’ misdeed
तस्याहं करुणं श्रुत्वा निशि लालवतो बहु।सम्भ्रान्त श्शोकवेगेन भृशमासं विचेतनः।।2.63.37।।
tasyāhaṃ karuṇaṃ śrutvā niśi lālavato bahu | sambhrāntaḥ śokavegena bhṛśam āsaṃ vicetanaḥ || 2.63.37 ||
رات کے سناٹے میں اس کی دل خراش فریاد سن کر، غم کے سیلاب نے مجھے ہراساں کر دیا؛ میں سخت بدحواس رہا، گویا بے ہوش۔
Having heard his pathetic lamentations at night, I was extremely frightened by the force of grief and stood bewildered.
FAQs
The verse illustrates that adharma produces inner turmoil: moral error is not only social harm but also a disruption of one’s own mental and ethical equilibrium.
Daśaratha recounts his immediate reaction after hearing the wounded youth’s cries in the dark forest.
Moral sensitivity: the king is not indifferent to suffering; his shock indicates recognition of wrongdoing.