Shloka 3.69.37
अयोमुखी-दर्शनम् तथा कबन्ध-प्रवेशः (Ayomukhi Encounter and the ظهور of Kabandha)
तत्र धैर्येण शूरस्तु राघवो नैव विव्यथे।बाल्यादनाश्रयत्वाच्च लक्ष्मणस्त्वतिविव्यथे।।।।उवाच स विषण्णस्सन्राघवं राघवानुजः।
tatra dhairyeṇa śūras tu rāghavo naiva vivyathe |
bālyād anāśrayatvāc ca lakṣmaṇas tv ati-vivyathe ||
uvāca sa viṣaṇṇas san rāghavaṁ rāghavānujaḥ ||3.69.37||
There, the heroic Rāghava did not waver, sustained by courage; but Lakṣmaṇa, younger and feeling without support, became greatly distressed. Depressed, Rāma’s younger brother spoke to Rāghava.
Of the two heroes, Rama being courageous was not worried but Lakshmana being younger and not having as much courage, was very much concerned and depressed. He said to Rama:
Dharma includes mental steadiness: Rama models courage under crisis, while Lakshmana’s fear is shown as human—implying the ethical ideal is to move from distress toward disciplined action.
Captured by Kabandha, Rama remains calm; Lakshmana becomes anxious and begins speaking to Rama.
Rama’s dhairya (steadfast courage) is foregrounded, establishing him as the stabilizing moral center in danger.