Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 96, Shloka 10
चित्रकूटे सैन्यधूलिशब्ददर्शनम्
Alarm at Chitrakūṭa: Lakṣmaṇa sights the approaching army
सुदुश्चरो गिरिश्चायं पक्षिणामपि लक्ष्मण।सर्वमेतद्यथातत्त्वमचिरात् ज्ञातुमर्हसि।।2.96.10।।
suduścaro giriś cāyaṃ pakṣiṇām api lakṣmaṇa | sarvam etad yathātattvam acirāt jñātum arhasi ||
Lakṣmaṇa, this mountain is hard to traverse—even for birds. You should quickly learn the truth of what is happening here, exactly as it is.
O Lakshmana, this mountain is highly inaccessible even to birds. Find out exactly and quickly what this is all about.
FAQs
Satya-oriented dharma: Rāma insists on knowing matters “as they truly are” (yathātattvam), showing that righteous action depends on accurate understanding, not assumption.
Sensing something significant or uncertain in a difficult terrain, Rāma instructs Lakṣmaṇa to investigate promptly and report the facts.
Prudence and leadership—Rāma combines caution with decisiveness, directing inquiry before taking further steps.