Shloka 27
सीतान्वेषणारम्भः
The Search for Sita Begins
वनं सर्वं सुविचितं पद्मिन्यः फुल्लपङ्कजाः।।3.61.26।।गिरिश्चायं महाप्राज्ञ बहुकन्दरनिर्झरः।न हि पश्यामि वैदेहीं प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसीम्।।3.61.27।।
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
Even in repeated/variant transmission, the dharmic emphasis remains: committed duty in relationships and truthful reporting of one’s efforts amid crisis.
Rama reiterates his exhaustive search and continued failure to find Sītā; the repetition reflects heightened emotional intensity and/or recension-level duplication.
Persistence under suffering—continuing the search despite despair.