Shloka 5.12.6
द्वादशः सर्गः — हनूमतः अन्तःपुरविचयः (Hanuman’s Search Through Ravana’s Inner Apartments)
दृष्टमन्तःपुरं सर्वं दृष्टा रावणयोषितः।न सीता दृश्यते साध्वीवृथा जातो मम श्रमः।।।।
dṛṣṭam antaḥpuraṃ sarvaṃ dṛṣṭā rāvaṇayoṣitaḥ |
na sītā dṛśyate sādhvī vṛthā jāto mama śramaḥ ||
I have seen the entire inner palace and I have seen Rāvaṇa’s women; yet the noble Sītā is not seen—my effort has come to nothing.
'I have searched all over the harem. Ravana's women have been seen. (Yet) I have not been able to see noble Sita. My efforts have been wasted'.
Dharma involves steadfast pursuit of the righteous goal even when immediate results are absent; recognizing failure honestly is part of satya and prepares renewed effort.
After searching the inner quarters thoroughly, Hanuman still cannot locate Sītā and laments that his exertion seems wasted.
Truthfulness in self-assessment—Hanuman does not pretend success and confronts the reality of the search.