Shloka 2.29.4
सीताया वनगमननिश्चयः — Sita’s Resolve to Accompany Rama to the Forest
मृगा स्सिंहा गजाश्चैव शार्दूला श्शरभास्तथा। पक्षिण स्सृमराश्चैव ये चान्ये वनचारिणः।।2.29.3।।अदृष्टपूर्वरूपत्वात्सर्वे ते तव राघव। रूपं दृष्ट्वाऽपसर्पेयुर्भये सर्वे हि बिभ्यति।।2.29.4।।
mṛgāḥ siṃhā gajāś caiva śārdūlāḥ śarabhas tathā | pakṣiṇaḥ sṛmarāś caiva ye cānye vanacāriṇaḥ ||2.29.3||
adṛṣṭapūrvarūpatvāt sarve te tava rāghava | rūpaṃ dṛṣṭvā 'pasarpeyuḥ bhaye sarve hi bibhyati ||2.29.4||
Deer, lions, elephants, tigers, sharabhas, birds, srimaras, and other forest dwellers—never having seen your form before, O Raghava, they will retreat upon seeing you, for all beings recoil in fear.
O scion of the Raghu race antelopes, lions, elephants, tigers, sarabhas, birds, srimaras and other wild beasts wandering in the forest have not seen your beauty before. Now on seeing you, they will flee away. In fact, who will not be afraid of seeing an object of fear?.
The verse supports righteous confidence: Sītā argues that Rāma’s very presence embodies protective dharma, making fearsome surroundings less threatening.
To counter Rāma’s warnings about forest dangers, Sītā claims the wild creatures would flee at the sight of Rāma, implying safety in accompanying him.
Rāma’s awe-inspiring valor (tejas) as perceived by Sītā, and Sītā’s persuasive courage in reframing danger.