Shloka 32
अनुसृष्टस्तदा काको जगाम विविधां गतिम्।।5.38.32।।लोककाम इमं लोकं सर्वं वै विचचार ह।
anusṛṣṭas tadā kāko jagāma vividhāṃ gatim || 5.38.32 ||
lokakāma imaṃ lokaṃ sarvaṃ vai vicacāra ha |
Then the crow, pursued, fled in many directions; longing to find refuge, it wandered through this entire world.
'Then that crow flew to many places seeking asylum all over the universe chased by the blade of grass.
FAQs
Even an offender instinctively seeks protection when faced with consequences; the dharmic frame of the episode moves toward the question of where true refuge (śaraṇa) lies.
Sītā recounts the well-known crow episode: the crow, struck by Rāma’s consecrated missile, runs everywhere seeking asylum.
Rāma’s role as the ultimate refuge is being set up indirectly—his readiness to uphold justice without abandoning compassion.