Chapter 12 — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 12

Valmiki Ramayana — Sundara Kanda

Verse 12.6

दृष्टमन्तःपुरं सर्वं दृष्टा राक्षसयोषितः। न सीता दृश्यते साध्वी वृथा जातो मम श्रमः॥

dṛṣṭamantaḥpuraṃ sarvaṃ dṛṣṭā rākṣasayoṣitaḥ| na sītā dṛśyate sādhvī vṛthā jāto mama śramaḥ||

English Meaning

Having searched the inner apartment through, and seen the wives of the Rākṣasa, I do not see the chaste Sită. Therefore vain is the trouble that I take.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)