Canto 3 -
Araṇya-kāṇḍa
Chapter 56: Sītā is Taken to Aśoka-vana
Text 3.57.16
यदा विनाशो भूतानां दृश्यते कालचोदितः।
तदा कार्ये प्रमाद्यन्ति नराः कालवशं गताः॥
yadā vināśo bhūtānāṁ dṛśyate kāla-coditaḥ
tadā kārye pramādyanti narāḥ kāla-vaśaṁ gatāḥ
yadā = when; vināśaḥ = destruction; bhūtānām = of the people; dṛśyate = is seen to take place; kāla-coditaḥ = impelled by [the force of] time; tadā1 kārye = in their plan of action; pramādyanti = become bewildered; narāḥ = people; kāla-vaśam = the control of time; gatāḥ = under.
When destruction of the people impelled by [the force of] time is seen to take place, people under the control of time become bewildered in their plan of action.
1 Technical note: tadā pramādyanti.
This is a matter of common sense. When destruction [of people] by the will of providence is imminent, [such people] experience reverses.