Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 93, Shloka 22
चित्रकूटमार्गवर्णनम्
Bharata’s Army Reaches Chitrakuta and Searches for Rama
ते समालोक्य धूमाग्रमूचुर्भरतमागताः। नामनुष्ये भवत्यग्नि र्व्यक्तमत्रैव राघवौ।।2.93.22।।
te samālokya dhūmāgram ūcur bharatam āgatāḥ | nāmanuṣye bhavaty agnir vyaktam atraiva rāghavau ||2.93.22||
Ayant aperçu la colonne de fumée, ils revinrent vers Bharata et dirent : «Là où nul homme ne demeure, le feu ne s’allume point ; il est manifeste que les deux Rāghava sont ici même.»
Having seen the column of smoke, they returned and informed Bharata, saying, 'In a place bereft of men, fire cannot exist. Clearly Rama and Lakshmana must be here only.'
FAQs
Satya-oriented dharma: they report what they observed and reason carefully from evidence, aiming at truthful guidance rather than speculation.
Scouts spot smoke, return to Bharata, and infer that Rama and Lakshmana are nearby because fire implies human presence.
Truthful reporting and sound judgment—courage is paired with careful reasoning and honest communication.