Shloka 118
पम्पा
तीर-वर्णनम् / Rama’s Lament at Pampa and the Approach to Rishyamuka
प्रवृत्तिर्लभ्यतां तावत्तस्य पापस्य रक्षसः।ततो हास्यति वा सीतां निधनं वा गमिष्यति।।।।
pravṛttir labhyatāṃ tāvat tasya pāpasya rakṣasaḥ | tato hāsyati vā sītāṃ nidhanaṃ vā gamiṣyati ||
Mula-mula, hendaklah ditemui dahulu jejak dan keberadaan raksasa berdosa itu; kemudian dia sama ada akan memulangkan Sītā, atau akan melangkah menuju kebinasaannya.
'Once the whereabouts of that sinful demon are known he will either deliver Sita or die.
FAQs
Dharma acts intelligently: before punishment or rescue, one must seek accurate knowledge (pravṛtti) and then pursue justice decisively.
Lakshmana outlines a practical sequence—locate Ravana first; the outcome will be Sita’s return or Ravana’s destruction.
Strategic clarity (nīti): disciplined prioritization of intelligence-gathering to fulfill a righteous goal.