सीतान्वेषणारम्भः
The Search for Sita Begins
कथं प्रतिज्ञां संश्रुत्य मया त्वमभियोजितः।।।।अपूरयित्वा तं कालं मत्सकाशमिहागतः।कामवृत्तमनार्यं मां मृषावादिनमेव च।।।।धिक्त्वामिति परे लोके व्यक्तं वक्ष्यति मे पिता।
kathaṃ pratijñāṃ saṃśrutya mayā tvam abhiyojitaḥ | apūrayitvā taṃ kālaṃ matsakāśam ihāgataḥ | kāmavṛttam anāryaṃ māṃ mṛṣāvādinam eva ca | dhik tvām iti pare loke vyaktaṃ vakṣyati me pitā ||
«Wie konntest du, nachdem ich dich auf dein gegebenes Gelübde hin beauftragt hatte, zu mir zurückkehren, ohne die bestimmte Frist zu erfüllen? In der jenseitigen Welt wird mein Vater dir gewiss offen sagen: “Schande über dich! Du hast mich als einen launenhaften, unedlen, ja wahrhaft lügnerischen Mann erscheinen lassen.”»
My father say will surely in the other world: Without completing the appointed period of the vow taken, how could you come here ? Fie upon you ! You are irresponsible. You are ignoble. You are a liar.
The primacy of satya and vow-keeping: Rāma frames moral integrity around completing a pledged duty within its specified term, and fears moral blame if that discipline is broken.
In grief, Rāma reproaches Lakṣmaṇa for returning early (before the agreed duration), interpreting it as a breach that would stain his own truthfulness and honor.
Rāma’s rigorous commitment to promises and reputation for truth, even amid intense personal suffering.