Shloka 3.64.35
गोदावरीतटे सीतान्वेषणम् — The Search for Sītā at the Godāvarī
एवं स रुषितो रामो दिधक्षन्निव चक्षुषा।।।।ददर्श भूमौ निष्क्रान्तं राक्षसस्य पदं महत्।त्रस्ताया रामकाङ्क्षिण्याः प्रधावन्त्या इतस्ततः।।।।राक्षसेनानुवृत्ताया मैथिल्याश्च पदान्यथ।
evaṁ sa ruṣito rāmo didhakṣann iva cakṣuṣā |
dadarśa bhūmau niṣkrāntaṁ rākṣasasya padaṁ mahat |
trastāyā rāmākāṅkṣiṇyāḥ pradhāvantyā itas tataḥ |
rākṣasenānuvṛttāyā maithilyāś ca padāny atha ||
Thus enraged, Rāma—his eyes as though ready to burn—saw upon the ground the huge footprints of a rākṣasa, and then the scattered footprints of Maithilī, frightened and running here and there, pursued by the demon, yearning for Rāma.
While Rama was angry with his eyes burning, he saw on the ground as he advanced large footprints of a demon and then the footprints of Maithili which signified as if chased by the demon, she was frightened and was running hither and thither, longing to see Rama.
Dharma includes discerning truth from evidence and acting to protect the vulnerable: the footprints become truthful signs that guide righteous response against adharma (violent abduction).
Rāma discovers physical traces: large demon footprints and Sītā’s frantic, irregular tracks indicating pursuit and fear.
Rāma’s alertness and commitment to justice—moving from grief-driven anger toward evidence-based understanding of what occurred.