Shloka 19
शरभङ्गाश्रमगमनम् तथा इन्द्रदर्शनम्
Approach to Sarabhanga’s Hermitage and the Vision of Indra
इहैव सह वैदेह्या मुहूर्तं तिष्ठ लक्ष्मण।यावज्जानाम्यहं व्यक्तं क एष द्युतिमान्रथे।।3.5.19।।
ihaiva saha vaidehyā muhūrtaṃ tiṣṭha lakṣmaṇa |
yāvaj jānāmy ahaṃ vyaktaṃ ka eṣa dyutimān rathe || 3.5.19 ||
लक्ष्मण, वैदेह्या सह इहैव मुहूर्तं तिष्ठ; यावदहं व्यक्तं जानीये—रथे स्थितः क एष द्युतिमान् इति।
Lakshmana, stay here with Sita awhile, until I ascertain who this dazzling being on the chariot is.
FAQs
Protective duty (rakṣā-dharma): Rama assigns Lakshmana the immediate responsibility of guarding Sītā while he investigates, showing that inquiry and action must not compromise protection of dependents.
Seeing a dazzling figure on a chariot, Rama pauses and asks Lakshmana to remain with Sītā while he goes to identify the visitor.
Rama’s responsibility and strategic caution—he separates roles: protection for Lakshmana, verification for himself.