Shloka 55
गोदावरीतटे सीतान्वेषणम्
The Search for Sītā at the Godāvarī
मृदुं लोकहिते युक्तं दान्तं करुणवेदिनम्।।।।निर्वीर्य इति मन्यन्ते नूनं मां त्रिदशेश्वराः।
mṛduṃ lokahite yuktaṃ dāntaṃ karuṇavedinam | nirvīrya iti manyante nūnaṃ māṃ tridaśeśvarāḥ ||
เหล่าเทวะทั้งหลายเป็นแน่ คงเห็นเราว่าอ่อนโยน—มุ่งประโยชน์แก่โลก สำรวมตน รู้กรุณา—แต่ไร้กำลังอำนาจ
The gods will certainly consider me a man engaged in the welfare of the world, a man of self-restraint and compassion, but at the same time a weak man.
FAQs
Dharma is not mere gentleness; it must be backed by effective protection. The verse pushes toward the kṣatriya-duty to pair compassion with strength against adharma.
Rāma interprets the calamity as a sign that even the gods may be underestimating his power, intensifying his resolve to act.
Moral seriousness—Rāma refuses a reputation of weakness when justice and protection are at stake.