Shloka 8
सीताया यशोधर्मविचारः
Sita’s Counsel on Honor, Rescue-Strategy, and Hanuman’s Reassurance
कथं नु खलु दुष्पारं तरिष्यन्ति महोदधिम्।तानि हर्यृक्षसैन्यानि तौ वा नरवरात्मजौ।।।।
kathaṁ nu khalu duṣpāraṁ tariṣyanti mahodadhim |
tāni haryṛkṣasainyāni tau vā naravarātmajau ||
وہ بندروں اور ریچھوں کی فوجیں اس عظیم سمندر کو—جو پار کرنا نہایت دشوار ہے—کیسے پار کریں گی؟ اور وہ دو شہزادے، بہترین انسان کے فرزند، اسے کیسے عبور کریں گے؟
'O valiant (Hanuman)! by your presence here, the less fortunate me, will be relieved of sorrow for a while.
FAQs
Truthful inquiry in service of a righteous goal: Sītā’s questions aim at the practical fulfillment of dharma (rescue and restoration), not at despair.
Sītā, while hopeful, raises the logistical obstacle of the ocean separating the allies from Laṅkā.
Concern for others’ welfare—she worries not only for herself, but for Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, and the allied host.