Shloka 3.60.25
सीतान्वेषणविलापः (Rama’s Lament and Search for Sita)
शार्दूल यदि सा दृष्टा प्रिया चन्द्रनिभानना।मैथिली मम विस्रब्धं कथयस्व न ते भयम्।।3.60.25।।
śārdūla yadi sā dṛṣṭā priyā candranibhānanā | maithilī mama visrabdhaṁ kathayasva na te bhayam || 3.60.25 ||
O tiger, if you have seen that Maithilī of mine, my beloved with a moon-like face, then tell me freely; you need not fear.
O tiger! tell me freely and fearlessly if you have seen my beloved princess from Mithila with a face like the moon.
Truth should be spoken without fear when it serves righteousness—Rāma explicitly removes fear as a barrier to truthful reporting.
In his search, Rāma addresses even a tiger, urging it to reveal any sighting of Sītā without hesitation.
Courage and moral authority: even in distress, Rāma speaks as one who protects rather than threatens, encouraging fearless truth.