सीतान्वेषणारम्भः
The Search for Sita Begins
कथं प्रतिज्ञां संश्रुत्य मया त्वमभियोजितः।।।।अपूरयित्वा तं कालं मत्सकाशमिहागतः।कामवृत्तमनार्यं मां मृषावादिनमेव च।।।।धिक्त्वामिति परे लोके व्यक्तं वक्ष्यति मे पिता।
kathaṃ pratijñāṃ saṃśrutya mayā tvam abhiyojitaḥ | apūrayitvā taṃ kālaṃ matsakāśam ihāgataḥ | kāmavṛttam anāryaṃ māṃ mṛṣāvādinam eva ca | dhik tvām iti pare loke vyaktaṃ vakṣyati me pitā ||
「我が汝を誓約によりて任じたのに、いかで定められた時を満たさず、ここに我がもとへ帰り来たるのか。来世にて父は必ず汝に明言するであろう、『恥を知れ!汝は我を欲に従う卑しき者、まことの偽り言う者とした』と。」
My father say will surely in the other world: Without completing the appointed period of the vow taken, how could you come here ? Fie upon you ! You are irresponsible. You are ignoble. You are a liar.
The primacy of satya and vow-keeping: Rāma frames moral integrity around completing a pledged duty within its specified term, and fears moral blame if that discipline is broken.
In grief, Rāma reproaches Lakṣmaṇa for returning early (before the agreed duration), interpreting it as a breach that would stain his own truthfulness and honor.
Rāma’s rigorous commitment to promises and reputation for truth, even amid intense personal suffering.