Shloka 15
सीतान्वेषणविलापः
Rama’s Lament and Search for Sita
ककुभः ककुभोरूं तां व्यक्तं जानाति मैथिलीम्।यथा पल्लवपुष्पाढ्यो भाति ह्येष वनस्पतिः।।3.60.15।।
kakubhaḥ kakubhorūṃ tāṃ vyaktaṃ jānāti maithilīm | yathā pallava-puṣpāḍhyo bhāti hy eṣa vanaspatiḥ || 3.60.15 ||
एष ककुभो द्रुमः पल्लवपुष्पाढ्यः शोभते; ककुभोरूं तां मैथिलीं व्यक्तं जानात्येव।
This great Tilaka tree round which bees bumble surely knows the lady who loves to put tilaka marks on the forehead.
FAQs
Dharma is faith in an ordered moral world: Rāma assumes the forest itself ‘knows’ and can bear truthful witness, reflecting the epic idea that nature aligns with righteousness.
Rāma continues his search by addressing another tree, reasoning from its flourishing appearance that it might ‘know’ Sītā’s whereabouts.
Hopeful persistence—he keeps seeking signs and testimonies rather than surrendering to despair.