Shloka 3.64.29
गोदावरीतटे सीतान्वेषणम् — The Search for Sītā at the Godāvarī
कच्चित् क्षितिभृतां नाथ दृष्टा सर्वाङ्गसुन्दरी।।।।रामा रम्ये वनोद्देशे मया विरहिता त्वया।
tāṁ lakṣmaṇas tīrthavatīṁ vicitvā rāmam abravīt |
naināṁ paśyāmi tīrtheṣu krośato na śṛṇoti me ||
After searching the river-landings and fords, Lakṣmaṇa said to Rāma: “I do not see her at these crossings; even when I cry out, no one answers me.”
O king of the mountains! have you seen a lady with beautiful limbs separated from me in this forest tract ?
Dharma here appears as dutiful service and truthful reporting: Lakṣmaṇa diligently searches and then honestly communicates the result to Rāma without exaggeration.
After Sītā’s disappearance, Lakṣmaṇa checks the river-fords/landings and reports to Rāma that he cannot find her and receives no response to his calls.
Lakṣmaṇa’s loyalty and responsibility—careful effort followed by transparent, factual speech (satya).