Shloka 3
सीतान्वेषणारम्भः
The Search for Sita Begins
क्व नु लक्ष्मण वैदेही कं वा देशमितो गता।केनाहृता वा सौमित्रे भक्षिता केन वा प्रिया।।।।
kva nu lakṣmaṇa vaidehī kaṃ vā deśam ito gatā |
kenāhṛtā vā saumitre bhakṣitā kena vā priyā ||
„O Lakshmana, wo ist denn Vaidehī? In welches Land ist sie von hier gegangen? Von wem wurde meine Geliebte fortgetragen — oder von wem wurde sie verschlungen, o Saumitri?“
O son of Sumitra, where is my beloved ? Where did she go? By whom was she abducted? Or, devoured? O Lakshmana !
FAQs
Dharma appears as protective responsibility: Rama’s urgent questioning reflects the duty to account for and safeguard those under one’s care, especially one’s spouse.
Rama, realizing Sītā is missing after the abduction, questions Lakshmana in distress, considering possibilities from wandering away to violent harm.
Concern and accountability—Rama’s immediate focus is Sītā’s safety and the truth of what has happened.