Shloka 3.13.26
पञ्चवटी-निर्देशः (Agastya Directs Rama to Panchavati)
तौ तु तेनाभ्यनुज्ञातौ कृतपादाभिवन्दनौ।तदाश्रमात्पञ्चवटीं जग्मतुस्सीतया सह।।।।
śatahradānāṃ lolatvaṃ śastrāṇāṃ tīkṣṇatāṃ tathā | garūḍānilayoḥ śaighryam anugacchanti yoṣitaḥ ||
It is said that women follow the fickleness of lightning, the sharpness of weapons, and the swiftness of Garuḍa and the wind.
Both of them worshipped the feet of sage Agastya, and proceeded to Panchavati with his permission.
The verse functions as a didactic contrast: ethical praise becomes sharper when set against commonly asserted human volatility.
Agastya uses vivid comparisons as part of a broader speech that culminates in praising Sītā as exceptional.
Indirectly, Sītā’s steadiness is highlighted by contrasting it with stereotyped instability.