Shloka 3.60.24

सीतान्वेषणविलापः (Rama’s Lament and Search for Sita)

Devanagari script

गज सा गजनासोरूर्यदि दृष्टा त्वया भवेत्।तां मन्ये विदितां तुभ्यमाख्याहि वरवारण।3.60.24।।

Transliteration

gaja sā gajanāsorūr yadi dṛṣṭā tvayā bhavet | tāṁ manye viditāṁ tubhyam ākhyāhi varavāraṇa || 3.60.24 ||

Translation

O elephant, if you have seen her, she whose thighs resemble an elephant’s trunk, then I think you would recognize her. Tell me, O best of elephants.

Context

O elephant! tell me if you have seen her whose thighs are like the trunk of an elephant. O best of elephants, tell me if you know her.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Maithilī (Sītā, implied)
• Elephant (gaja/vara-vāraṇa)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma is the pursuit of truth (satya) in service of justice—Rāma seeks reliable testimony to restore moral order after Sītā’s wrongful abduction.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma addresses an elephant during his search, describing Sītā by distinctive features and urging the animal to report honestly if it has seen her.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Practical discernment amid grief: he tries to identify Sītā through recognizable marks, showing focused intent rather than mere lament.