Shloka 26
सीतान्वेषणारम्भः
The Search for Sita Begins
वनं सर्वं सुविचितं पद्मिन्यः फुल्लपङ्कजाः।।।।गिरिश्चायं महाप्राज्ञ बहुकन्दरनिर्झरः।न हि पश्यामि वैदेहीं प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसीम्।।।।
vanaṃ sarvaṃ suvicitaṃ padminyaḥ phullapaṅkajāḥ |
giriś cāyaṃ mahāprājña bahukandaranirjharaḥ |
na hi paśyāmi vaidehīṃ prāṇebhyo 'pi garīyasīm ||
「大賢なるラクシュマナよ、森のすべてをくまなく探し、花開く蓮の池々を巡り、この洞窟と流れに満ちた山も調べ尽くした。だが、我が命にも勝って愛しいヴァイデーヒーの姿が見えぬ。」
O wise Lakshmana! I have searched the entire forest, the ponds with fully blossomed lotuses, the mountains with many caves and streams. But could not see Vaidehi who is dearer to me than my life.
FAQs
Dharma is expressed as unwavering spousal responsibility and truthfulness: Rama reports the facts of his search without self-deception, and his sense of duty is intensified by love and commitment.
Rama enumerates the places he has searched—forest, lotus-ponds, mountain terrain—yet he still cannot find Sītā.
Steadfast love and diligence—Rama’s exhaustive search and his valuation of Sītā as dearer than life.