Shloka 26
सीतान्वेषणारम्भः
The Search for Sita Begins
वनं सर्वं सुविचितं पद्मिन्यः फुल्लपङ्कजाः।।।।गिरिश्चायं महाप्राज्ञ बहुकन्दरनिर्झरः।न हि पश्यामि वैदेहीं प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसीम्।।।।
vanaṃ sarvaṃ suvicitaṃ padminyaḥ phullapaṅkajāḥ |
giriś cāyaṃ mahāprājña bahukandaranirjharaḥ |
na hi paśyāmi vaidehīṃ prāṇebhyo 'pi garīyasīm ||
«O weiser Lakshmana, ich habe den ganzen Wald gründlich durchsucht, die Lotosteiche mit voll erblühten Lotosblumen und diesen Berg mit seinen vielen Höhlen und Bächen; doch sehe ich Vaidehī nicht, die mir teurer ist als das eigene Leben.»
O wise Lakshmana! I have searched the entire forest, the ponds with fully blossomed lotuses, the mountains with many caves and streams. But could not see Vaidehi who is dearer to me than my life.
FAQs
Dharma is expressed as unwavering spousal responsibility and truthfulness: Rama reports the facts of his search without self-deception, and his sense of duty is intensified by love and commitment.
Rama enumerates the places he has searched—forest, lotus-ponds, mountain terrain—yet he still cannot find Sītā.
Steadfast love and diligence—Rama’s exhaustive search and his valuation of Sītā as dearer than life.