Shloka 3.64.31
गोदावरीतटे सीतान्वेषणम् — The Search for Sītā at the Godāvarī
क्रुद्धोऽब्रवीद्गिरिं तत्र सिंहः क्षुद्रमृगं यथा।।3.64.30।।तां हेमवर्णां हेमाभां सीतां दर्शय पर्वत।यावत्सानूनि सर्वाणि न ते विध्वंसयाम्यहम्।।3.64.31।।
kruddho ’bravīd giriṁ tatra siṁhaḥ kṣudramṛgaṁ yathā || 3.64.30 ||
tāṁ hemavarṇāṁ hemābhāṁ sītāṁ darśaya parvata |
yāvat sānūni sarvāṇi na te vidhvaṁsayāmy aham || 3.64.31 ||
In wrath, Rāma spoke to the mountain like a lion to a lesser beast: “Show me Sītā, radiant as gold; otherwise I shall shatter all your slopes and ridges.”
Like a lion aiming at a petty animal, angry Rama said, O Mountain before I destroy all your slopes show me that goldenhued Sita with lustre like gold.
The repetition underscores the ethical tension between righteous purpose and uncontrolled anger; dharma demands both protection of the innocent and restraint.
A repeated/duplicated reading in the Southern Recension: Rāma again threatens the mountain while searching for Sītā.
Determination in crisis—Rāma’s unwavering focus on recovering Sītā.