Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 93, Shloka 23
चित्रकूटमार्गवर्णनम्
Bharata’s Army Reaches Chitrakuta and Searches for Rama
अथ नाऽत्र नरव्याघ्रौ राजपुत्रौ परन्तपौ। अन्ये रामोपमा स्सन्ति व्यक्तमत्र तपस्विनः।।2.93.23।।
atha nātra naravyāghrau rājaputrau parantapau | anye rāmopamāḥ santi vyaktam atra tapasvinaḥ ||2.93.23||
Or, si les deux princes, tigres parmi les hommes, dompteurs des ennemis, ne sont pas ici, il est évident que d’autres ascètes, semblables à Rāma, demeurent en ce lieu.
In case the two princes, Rama and Lakshmana, the best of men, and subduers ofenemies are not residing here then evidently it must be some other ascetics like Rama.
FAQs
Dharma aligned with Satya includes intellectual honesty: they acknowledge an alternative explanation and do not overstate certainty beyond the evidence.
The scouts qualify their inference: if Rama and Lakshmana are not present, the smoke could belong to other ascetics living there.
Truthfulness with humility—careful speech that avoids exaggeration and shows respect toward ascetics.