Shloka 3.64.1
गोदावरीतटे सीतान्वेषणम् — The Search for Sītā at the Godāvarī
स दीनो दीनया वाचा लक्ष्मणं वाक्यमब्रवीत्।शीघ्रं लक्ष्मण जानीहि गत्वा गोदावरीं नदीम्।।।।अपि गोदावरीं सीता पद्मान्यानयितुं गता।
sa dīno dīnayā vācā lakṣmaṇaṃ vākyam abravīt |
śīghraṃ lakṣmaṇa jānīhi gatvā godāvarīṃ nadīm ||
api godāvarīṃ sītā padmāny ānayituṃ gatā |
Dejected, Rama spoke to Lakshmana in a piteous voice: “Go quickly, Lakshmana—go to the river Godavari and find out whether Sita has gone there to gather lotuses.”
Rama in dejection said these pitiable words to Lakshmana,O Lakashmana, go swiftly to the river Godavari and find out if Sita has gone there to get lotuses.
Dharma demands timely action: grief is redirected into duty—investigation, search, and protection. Rama’s instruction models responsible response rather than paralysis.
After realizing Sita is missing, Rama proposes a plausible immediate explanation (lotus-gathering at Godavari) and dispatches Lakshmana to verify.
Practical leadership under distress—Rama converts emotion into purposeful steps, and Lakshmana’s readiness to serve is implied.