Canto 3 -
Araṇya-kāṇḍa
Chapter 64: Rāma Discovers Some Clues About Sītā’s Whereabouts
Text 3.64.9
ततः प्रचोदिता भूतैः शंसास्मत्तां प्रियामिति।
न तु साभ्यवदत्सीतां पृष्टा रामेण शोचता॥
tataḥ pracoditā bhūtaiḥ śaṁsāsmat tāṁ priyām iti
na tu sābhyavadat sītāṁ pṛṣṭā rāmeṇa śocatā
tataḥ = then; pracoditā = though impelled; bhūtaiḥ = the creatures; śaṁsa = tell [Him]; asmat = for our sake; tām priyām = about His beloved; iti = by saying; na tu = not; sā = the river; abhyavadat = it did say [anything]; sītām = about Sītā-devī; pṛṣṭā = inquired; rāmeṇa = when Rāmacandra; śocatā = while lamenting [about her].
Though the creatures then impelled the river by saying, “Tell [Him] about His beloved for our sake,” it did not say [anything] when Rāmacandra inquired about Sītā-devī while lamenting [about her].
The river didn’t tell Lord Rāma by its own accord. Even when it was impelled by the creatures [in the forest], it didn’t say [anything].
The reason for the creatures’ silence is set out in the next verse.