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 ||
اے لکشمن! ویدیہی (سیتا) کے ساتھ یہیں ایک لمحہ ٹھہرو، جب تک میں صاف طور پر جان نہ لوں کہ رتھ پر سوار یہ نورانی ہستی کون ہے۔
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.