Shloka 37
गोदावरीतटे सीतान्वेषणम्
The Search for Sītā at the Godāvarī
स समीक्ष्य परिक्रान्तं सीताया राक्षसस्य च।।।।भग्नं धनुश्च तूणी च विकीर्णं बहुधा रथम्।सम्भ्रान्तहृदयो रामश्शशंस भ्रातरंप्रियम्।।।।
sa samīkṣya parikrāntaṁ sītāyā rākṣasasya ca |
bhagnaṁ dhanuś ca tūṇī ca vikīrṇaṁ bahudhā ratham |
sambhrāntahṛdayo rāmaḥ śaśaṁsa bhrātaraṁ priyam ||
Seeing the marks of Sītā’s struggle with the rākṣasa—the bow and quiver broken, and the chariot shattered and scattered into many pieces—Rāma, his heart shaken, spoke to his beloved brother.
Bewildered to see the broken bow and quiver and many splinters of the chariot scattered all over, Rama said to his loving brother Lakshmana:
FAQs
Dharma involves responding to injustice with clarity: the broken weapons and wreckage provide truthful evidence of violence, calling for righteous protection and pursuit of the wrongdoer.
Rāma finds physical remnants of a violent encounter—broken bow/quiver and scattered chariot parts—confirming a struggle connected to Sītā and a rākṣasa.
Fraternal reliance and leadership under shock: Rāma, though shaken, turns to communicate and coordinate with Lakṣmaṇa.