Shloka 3.64.17
गोदावरीतटे सीतान्वेषणम् — The Search for Sītā at the Godāvarī
एवमुक्ता नरेन्द्रेण ते मृगास्सहसोत्थिताः।।।।दक्षिणाभिमुखास्सर्वे दर्शयन्तो नभस्थलम्।मैथिली ह्रियमाणा सा दिशं यामन्वपद्यत।।।।तेन मार्गेण धावन्तो निरीक्षन्ते नराधिपम्।
evam uktā narendreṇa te mṛgāḥ sahasotthitāḥ | dakṣiṇābhimukhāḥ sarve darśayanto nabhasthalam | maithilī hriyamāṇā sā diśaṃ yām anvapadyata | tena mārgeṇa dhāvanto nirīkṣante narādhipam ||
Thus addressed by the prince, the deer sprang up at once. All facing south, they pointed toward the sky’s expanse—the direction along which Maithilī was being carried away. Then, running along that very path, they kept looking back at the lord of men.
Thus asked by the prince, all the deer got up suddenly, and pointed towards the southern sky, the direction in which the princess from Mithila was carried off. Looking at the Lord of men (Rama), they started running in that direction.
Dharma is the alignment of the world toward justice: even animals become indicators, suggesting that the pursuit of righteousness is supported by truthful signs (satya) in creation.
The deer respond to Rāma’s question by indicating the southern direction—the route of Sītā’s abduction—and run that way, urging him onward.
Rāma’s receptive leadership—he seeks guidance and follows credible indications to restore what is right.