Shloka 21

गोदावरीतटे सीतान्वेषणम्

The Search for Sītā at the Godāvarī

Devanagari script

क्व सितेति त्वया पृष्टा यथेमे सहसोत्थिताः।।।।दर्शयन्ति क्षितिं चैव दक्षिणां च दिशं मृगाः।साधु गच्छावहे देव दिशमेतां हि नैऋतिम्।।।।यदि स्यादागमः कश्चिदार्या वा साऽथ लक्ष्यते।

Transliteration

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 ||

Translation

เมื่อพระองค์ตรัสถามว่า “สีตาอยู่ที่ใด” กวางเหล่านี้ก็ผุดลุกขึ้นทันที ราวกับชี้ทั้งพื้นดินและทิศใต้. เพราะฉะนั้น ข้าแต่พระผู้เป็นนาย ขอเราจงไปโดยชอบสู่ทิศไนฤติ (ตะวันตกเฉียงใต้) นี้เถิด; บางทีอาจได้ร่องรอยบางประการ หรืออาจได้พบพระนางผู้ประเสริฐนั้นเอง

Word by Word

बाढम्certainly/yes

इतिthus

एवindeed

काकुत्स्थःKakutstha (Rama)

प्रस्थितःset out/departed

दक्षिणाम्southern

दिशम्direction

लक्ष्मणानुगतःfollowed by Lakshmana

श्रीमान्illustrious

वीक्षमाणःlooking at

वसुन्धराम्the earth/ground

Context

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 south-western direction. Maybe we will get some clue or find that noble Sita.

Characters & Entities

Sītā

Lakṣmaṇa

Rāma

mṛga (deer)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma is practical wisdom in service of truth: Lakṣmaṇa uses observed signs to recommend the most reasonable course, guiding action by evidence rather than despair.

What is the narrative situation?

During the urgent search for Sītā, Lakṣmaṇa interprets the sudden movement of deer as an omen/indicator and advises moving toward the south‑west.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s steady-minded leadership—calm counsel that supports Rāma’s righteous purpose.