Shloka 71
गोदावरीतटे सीतान्वेषणम्
The Search for Sītā at the Godāvarī
तथारुपां हि वैदेहीं न दास्यन्ति यदि प्रियाम्।नाशयामि जगत्सर्वं त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम्।।।।
tathārūpāṃ hi vaidehīṃ na dāsyanti yadi priyām | nāśayāmi jagat sarvaṃ trailokyaṃ sacarācaram ||
ಅವರು ನನ್ನ ಪ್ರಿಯ ವೈದೇಹಿಯನ್ನು ಅವಳ ಯಥಾರೂಪದಲ್ಲೇ ನನಗೆ ಮರಳಿ ಕೊಡದಿದ್ದರೆ, ನಾನು ಚರಾಚರ ಸಹಿತ ಸಮಸ್ತ ಜಗತ್ತನ್ನೇ—ತ್ರಿಲೋಕವನ್ನೆಲ್ಲ—ನಾಶಮಾಡುವೆ.
If my beloved Vaidehi is not given back to me in her true form I will destroy the three worlds with all animate and inanimate beings.
FAQs
It underscores that dharma is not merely power or intention; it is proportion and restraint. The threat to destroy all beings shows how adharma can arise from excess, even in pursuit of truth and justice.
Rāma’s desperation peaks: he demands Sītā’s safe return ‘as she is,’ otherwise he imagines annihilating the cosmic order.
Total fidelity to his spouse and to justice—yet the episode highlights the necessity of self-governance as part of virtue.