Shloka 3.61.18
सीतान्वेषणारम्भः — The Search for Sita Begins
वनं सर्वं विचिनुवो यत्र सा जनकात्मजा।।।।मन्यसे यदि काकुत्स्थ मा स्म शोके मनः कृथाः।
vitrāsayitukāmā vā līnā syāt kānane kvacit |
jijñāsamānā vaidehī tvāṁ māṁ ca puruṣarṣabha ||3.61.17||
tasyā hy anveṣaṇe śrīman kṣipram eva yatāvahe |
Or Vaidehī may be hidden somewhere in the forest, meaning to startle us—testing you and me, O best of men. Therefore, O blessed one, let us at once strive to search for her.
O scion of the Kakutsthas, let us search all over the forest if you please. Do not indulge in sorrow.
Dharma is prompt, united effort in a crisis: rather than speculation alone, Lakṣmaṇa directs Rāma toward immediate action grounded in care and responsibility.
Lakṣmaṇa imagines Sītā might be hiding to startle or test them, and urges Rāma to begin the search immediately.
Initiative and loyal partnership—Lakṣmaṇa offers both explanation and a plan, reinforcing Rāma’s capacity to act.