Shloka 22
गोदावरीतटे सीतान्वेषणम्
The Search for Sītā at the Godāvarī
क्व सितेति त्वया पृष्टा यथेमे सहसोत्थिताः।।3.64.21।।दर्शयन्ति क्षितिं चैव दक्षिणां च दिशं मृगाः।साधु गच्छावहे देव दिशमेतां हि नैऋतिम्।।3.64.22।।यदि स्यादागमः कश्चिदार्या वा साऽथ लक्ष्यते।
kva site iti tvayā pṛṣṭā yathā ime sahasotthitāḥ | darśayanti kṣitiṃ caiva dakṣiṇāṃ ca diśaṃ mṛgāḥ | sādhu gacchāvahe deva diśam etāṃ hi naiṛtim | yadi syād āgamaḥ kaścid āryā vā sā ’tha lakṣyate ||
Tatkala engkau bertanya, “Di manakah Sītā?”, rusa-rusa ini tiba-tiba bangkit serentak, lalu menunjukkan tanah dan arah ke Selatan. Maka, wahai tuanku, marilah kita menuju ke penjuru Barat Daya itu; mudah-mudahan ada suatu tanda yang tampak, atau wanita mulia itu sendiri akan ditemui.
O lord these deer are indicating the land on the southern side.Therefore it will be proper for both of us to proceed in the southwestern direction. Maybe we will get some clue or find that noble Sita.
FAQs
Dharma is shown as perseverance guided by reason: even in grief, one acts methodically, seeking truthful signs and following the most fitting path.
This verse duplicates the counsel about the deer’s indication and the south‑western route (a Southern Recension presentation), reinforcing the decision to move in that direction.
Lakṣmaṇa’s reliability and clarity in counsel under pressure.