Canto 3 -
Araṇya-kāṇḍa
Chapter 71: Kabandha’s Past Life
Text 3.71.23
शोकार्तानामनाथानामेवं विपरिधावताम्।
कारुण्यं सदृशं कर्तुमुपकारे च वर्तताम्॥
śokārtānām anāthānām evaṁ viparidhāvatām
kāruṇyaṁ sadṛśaṁ kartum upakāre ca vartatām
śoka-ārtānām = to persons who are afflicted by distress; anāthānām = helplessly; evam = in this manner; viparidhāvatām = running around here and there; kāruṇyam = merciful; sadṛśam = it is appropriate; kartum = to be; upakāre ca vartatām = while helping others.
It is appropriate to be merciful to persons who are afflicted by distress, helplessly running around here and there in this manner while helping others.
He describes how He can help [Kabandha] in the next verse.