Shloka 18
सीतान्वेषणारम्भः
The Search for Sita Begins
वनं सर्वं विचिनुवो यत्र सा जनकात्मजा।।।।मन्यसे यदि काकुत्स्थ मा स्म शोके मनः कृथाः।
vanaṁ sarvaṁ vicinuvo yatra sā janakātmajā |
manyase yadi kākutstha mā sma śoke manaḥ kṛthāḥ ||3.61.18||
Wahai Kākutstha, jika engkau berkenan, marilah kita menyusuri seluruh hutan, di mana pun putri Janaka berada; jangan biarkan hatimu tenggelam dalam duka.
When Lakshmana consoled him so affectionately Rama became composed. He continued the search with Lakshmana, son of Sumitra.
FAQs
Dharma is self-mastery (indriya-nigraha/śoka-nirodha) in service of duty: grief must not override the righteous task of searching and protecting.
Lakṣmaṇa asks Rāma’s assent and proposes a thorough search of the forest, urging him not to be consumed by sorrow.
Composure and determination—Lakṣmaṇa models calm persistence and invites Rāma back into purposeful action.