Shloka 3.64.19
गोदावरीतटे सीतान्वेषणम् — The Search for Sītā at the Godāvarī
येन मार्गं च भूमिं च निरीक्षन्ते स्म ते मृगाः।।।।पुनश्च मार्गमिच्छन्ति लक्ष्मणेनोपलक्षिताः।
yena mārgaṃ ca bhūmiṃ ca nirīkṣante sma te mṛgāḥ | punaś ca mārgam icchanti lakṣmaṇenopalakṣitāḥ ||
The deer kept scanning both the ground and the route; and once more they sought to go along that very path, as Lakṣmaṇa observed.
Even Lakshmana marked that the deer were showing and looking at the path lying in that direction.
Dharma is practical discernment in service of truth: Lakṣmaṇa carefully verifies the clue, supporting the righteous mission through attentive, evidence-based judgment.
Lakṣmaṇa observes the deer’s repeated focus on the ground and route, confirming the direction to pursue in the search for Sītā.
Supportive vigilance—Lakṣmaṇa’s steady perception and assistance to Rāma in crisis.