Shloka 3.45.12
सीतया लक्ष्मणप्रेषणम् — Sita urges Lakshmana to seek Rama (The crisis of the ‘distressed voice’)
देवि देवमनुष्येषु गन्धर्वेषु पतत्रिषु।।3.45.11।।राक्षसेषु पिशाचेषु किन्नरेषु मृगेषु च।दानवेषु च घोरेषु स न विद्येत शोभने।।3.45.12।।यो रामं प्रतियुध्येत समरे वासवोपमम्।
avadhyaḥ samare rāmo naivaṁ tvaṁ vaktum arhasi | na tvām asmin vane hātum utsahe rāghavaṁ vinā ||3.45.13||
Rāma is unassailable in battle; it is not right for you to speak so. And without Rāghava, I cannot bring myself to leave you alone in this forest.
O brilliant Devi none among gods or men, gandharvas, birds or goblins kinnaras, wild animals or dreadful demons can encounter Rama in war.
Dharma as entrusted duty (niyoga/nyāsa): Lakṣmaṇa prioritizes the responsibility of safeguarding Sītā over impulsive movement, insisting that speech and action must align with right judgment and assigned protection.
Sītā urges Lakṣmaṇa to go after Rāma; Lakṣmaṇa replies that Rāma cannot be slain and that he will not leave Sītā alone in the forest.
Lakṣmaṇa’s steadfast sense of duty and protective integrity—he refuses to violate the trust placed in him.