Shloka 15
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||
प्रिय काननांत विहरणारी, वनमोहित मैथिली—ती कदाचित् वनात प्रविष्ट झाली असेल, किंवा सुपुष्पित कमलिनी सरोवरात गेली असेल।
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.
FAQs
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.