Canto 3 -
Araṇya-kāṇḍa
Chapter 64: Rāma Discovers Some Clues About Sītā’s Whereabouts
Text 3.64.36
इमां वा सरितं चाद्य शोषयिष्यामि लक्ष्मण।
यदि नाख्याति मे सीतामार्यां चन्द्रनिभाननाम्॥
imāṁ vā saritaṁ cādya śoṣayiṣyāmi lakṣmaṇa
yadi nākhyāti me sītām āryāṁ candra-nibhānanām
imām = this; vā = or else; saritam ca = river; adya = today; śoṣayiṣyāmi = I will dry up; lakṣmaṇa = Lakṣmaṇa; yadi = if; na = not; ākhyāti = it does tell; me = Me; sītām = Sītā; āryām = about the worshipable; candra-nibha-ānanām = moon-faced.
Or else, Lakṣmaṇa, I will dry up this river today if it does not tell Me about the worshipable, moon-faced Sītā.
It is implied that Lord Rāma considered that the river had also failed to answer His question [about Mother Sītā’s whereabouts].