Shloka 3.64.11

गोदावरीतटे सीतान्वेषणम् — The Search for Sītā at the Godāvarī

Devanagari script

एषा गोदावरी सौम्य किंचिन्न प्रति भाषते।किं नु लक्ष्मण वक्ष्यामि समेत्य जनकं वचः।।।।मातरं चैव वैदेह्या विना तामहमप्रियम्।

Transliteration

eṣā godāvarī saumya kiñcin na pratibhāṣate | kiṃ nu lakṣmaṇa vakṣyāmi sametya janakaṃ vacaḥ || mātaraṃ caiva vaidehyā vinā tām aham apriyam ||

Translation

“O gentle Lakshmana, this Godavari does not answer even a little. What sorrowful words shall I speak when I meet Janaka—and Sita’s mother too—if I come without Vaidehi?”

Context

O handsome Lakshmana! this Godavari does not at all respond. How can I go to Janaka and my mother without Sita and break this unhappy news?

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Godavari
• Sita (Vaidehi)
• Janaka
• Sita's mother (Queen of Videha; not named here)

FAQs

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

Dharma is accountability to family and truth (satya): Rāma foresees the moral burden of facing Janaka and Sītā’s mother, compelled to speak painful truth if Sītā is not found.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma laments that even the Godāvarī gives no clue, and he imagines the consequences of returning to Mithilā’s elders without Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Integrity and familial responsibility—Rāma measures his actions against obligations to elders and to truthful speech.