सीतान्वेषणारम्भः
The Search for Sita Begins
प्रियकाननसञ्चारा वनोन्मत्ता च मैथिली।सा वनं वा प्रविष्टा स्यान्नलिनीं वा सुपुष्पिताम्।।।।
priyakānanasañcārā vanonmattā ca maithilī |
sā vanaṁ vā praviṣṭā syān nalinīṁ vā supuṣpitām ||3.61.15||
愛しき林を巡るのを好み、森に心を奪われたマイティリーは、森へ入ったのかもしれぬ。あるいは花盛りの蓮池へ赴いたのだろう。
Maybe she has gone to take a dip in the river full of reeds and fishes ! Or has hidden somewhere for the sake of fun.
Dharma here is rational, compassionate reassurance: Lakṣmaṇa offers plausible explanations to prevent unjust conclusions and to keep the search guided by calm discernment.
Lakṣmaṇa suggests Sītā may have wandered into the forest or toward a blooming lotus-pond, framing possibilities to direct the search.
Practical intelligence joined with empathy—Lakṣmaṇa steadies Rāma by offering constructive hypotheses rather than panic.