Shloka 20
विश्वामित्रस्य यज्ञरक्षा-याचना
Visvamitra Requests Rama for Yajna-Protection
स तन्निशम्य राजेन्द्रो विश्वामित्रवचश्शुभम्।।।।शोकमभ्यगमत्तीव्रं व्यषीदत भयान्वित:।
sa tan niśamya rājendro viśvāmitra-vacaḥ śubham |
śokam abhyagamat tīvraṃ vyaṣīdata bhayānvitaḥ ||
王听闻毗湿瓦密多吉祥之言，顿被剧烈忧伤所攫；因恐惧而心神沮丧。
Having listened to those auspicious words of Viswamitra, the king among kings, (Dasaratha) experienced intense grief out of fear. He became despondent.
FAQs
Even righteous people experience inner conflict; dharma often requires moving through fear and grief without abandoning duty.
After Viśvāmitra’s request and assurances, Daśaratha reacts emotionally—fearful of danger to Rāma and sorrowful at parting.
Daśaratha’s deep parental love (and the trial it creates for rāja-dharma), highlighting the human cost of righteous decisions.