Sarga 28

स एवं ब्रुवतीं सीतां धर्मज्ञो धर्मवत्सलः। न नेतुं कुरुते बुद्धिं वने दुःखानि चिन्तयन्।।2.28.1।।

Rama, who knew his duties and was devoted to righteousness, reflected on the difficulties of forest ...

सान्त्वयित्वा पुनस्तां तु बाष्पदूषितलोचनाम्। निवर्तनार्थे धर्मात्मा वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह।।2.28.2।।

Righteous Rama consoled Sita whose eyes were blurred with tears, and in order to dissuade her (from ...

सीते महाकुलीनाऽसि धर्मे च निरता सदा। इहाऽचर स्वधर्मं त्वं मे यथा मनसस्सुखम्।।2.28.3।।

Born in a noble race, O Sita, you are always devoted to duty. Follow your duty, here. It will make m...

सीते यथा त्वां वक्ष्यामि तथा कार्यं त्वयाऽबले। वने हि बहवो दोषा वदतस्तान्निबोध मे।।2.28.4।।

Do as I tell you, O delicate Sita. There are, indeed, many hardships in the forest. I shall tell you...

सीते विमुच्यतामेषा वनवासकृता मतिः। बहुदोषं हि कान्तारं वनमित्यभिधीयते।।2.28.5।।

Give up the desire to live in the forest, O Sita Living in the dreary jungle, it is said, has many h...

हितबुद्ध्या खलु वचो मयैतदभिधीयते। सदा सुखं न जानामि दुःखमेव सदा वनम्।।2.28.6।।

I am saying all this in your interest. The forest is a haven of hardships. I know of no happiness in...

गिरिनिर्झरसम्भूता गिरिकन्दर वासिनाम्। सिंहानां निनदा दुःखा श्श्रोतुं दुःखमतो वनम्।।2.28.7।।

It is frightening to hear the sounds of waterfalls and the roar of lions living in the mountain cav...

क्रीडमानाश्च विस्रब्धा मत्ता श्शून्ये महामृगाः। दृष्ट्वा समभिवर्तन्ते सीते दुःखमतो वनम्।।2.28.8।।

Big, wild animals, moving about freely and sporting in the deserted forest, attack on seeing a human...

सग्राहा स्सरितश्चैव पङ्कवत्यस्सु दुस्तराः। मत्तैरपि गजैर्नित्यमतो दुःखतरं वनम्।।2.28.9।।

The rivers, infested with crocodiles and filled with mud are difficult to cross even for elephants i...

लताकण्टकसङ्कीर्णाः कृकवाकूपनादिताः। निरपाश्च सुदुर्गाश्च मार्गा दुःखमतो वनम्।।2.28.10।।

. The paths full of thorny creepers, echoing with the noise of wild fowls, and with no water (to dri...

सुप्यते पर्णशय्यासु स्वयं भग्नासु भूतले। रात्रिषु श्रमखिन्नेन तस्माद्दुःखतरं वनम्।।2.28.11।।

Exhausted with struggles one has to sleep at night on a bed of leaves fallen on their own on the gro...

अहोरात्रं च सन्तोषः कर्तव्यो नियतात्मना। फलैर्वृक्षावपतितै स्सीते दुःखमतो वनम्।।2.28.12।।

With the senses under control night and day, O Sita, one must be satisfied with the fruits fallen fr...

उपवासश्च कर्तव्यो यथा प्राणेन मैथिलि। जटाभारश्च कर्तव्यो वल्कलाम्बरधारिणा।।2.28.13।।

One has to wear robes of bark and matted hair and take to fasting as long as one can, O daughter of ...

देवतानां पित्रूणां कर्तव्यं विधिपूर्वकम्। प्राप्तानामतिथीनां च नित्यशः प्रतिपूजनम्।।2.28.14।।

One has to worship gods and ancestors according to tradition and extend hospitality to guests, (who ...

कार्यस्त्रिरभिषेकश्च काले काले च नित्यशः। चरता नियमेनैव तस्माद्धुःखतरं वनम्।।2.28.15।।

One has to wander about all the while (like an ascetic) as per the customs and take ablutions three ...

उपहारश्च कर्तव्यः कुसुमै स्स्वयमाहृतैः। आर्षेण विधिना वेद्यां बाले दुःखमतो वनम्।।2.28.16।।

Flowers collected with one's own hands, O innocent one, should be offered on the altar as per injunc...

यथालब्धेन कर्तव्यः सन्तोषस्तेन मैथिलि। यताहारैर्वनचरै र्नित्यं दुःखमतो वनम्।।2.28.17।।

The wanderers in the jungle, O daughter of Mithila, have to be satisfied daily with whatever little ...

अतीव वातास्तिमिरं बुभुक्षा चात्र नित्यशः। भयानि च महान्त्यत्र ततो दुःखतरं वनम्।।2.28.18।।

There is extreme wind and darkness, hunger and fear. Therefore forest (life) is difficult.

सरीसृपाश्च बहवो बहुरूपाश्च भामिनि। चरन्ति पृथिवीं दर्पात्ततो दुःखतरं वनम्।।2.28.19।।

There are various forms of fierce reptiles fearlessly crawling on the ground. So (living in the) for...

नदी निलयना स्सर्पा नदीकुटिलगामिनः। तिषठ्न्त्यावृत्य पन्थानं ततो दुःखतरं वनम्।।.2.28.20।।

The serpents that live in and move like meandering rivers always obstruct the paths. Therefore, liv...

पतङ्गा वृश्चिकाः कीटा दंशाश्च मशकै स्सह। बाधन्ते नित्यमबले सर्वं दुःखमतो वनम्।।2.28.21।।

Birds, scorpions, insects, gnats and mosquitoes always create trouble. Therefore, life in the forest...

द्रुमाः कण्टकिनश्चैव कुशा: काशाश्च भामिनि। वने व्याकुलशाखाग्रास्तेन दुःखतरं वनम्।।2.28.22।।

O lovely Sita there are thorny trees with branches on the top interlaced with one another. There are...

कायक्लेशाश्च बहवो भयानि विविधानि च। अरण्यवासे वसतो दुःखमेव ततो वनम्।।2.28.23।।

There are various physical afflictions and fears for one who lives in the forest. Therefore, forest ...

क्रोधलोभौ विमोक्तव्यौ कर्तव्या तपसे मतिः। न भेतव्यं च भेतव्ये नित्यं दुःखमतो वनम्।।2.28.24।।

Anger and greed have to be given up, with the mind preoccupied with ascetic practices. One should no...

तदलं ते वनं गत्वा क्षमं न हि वनं तव। विमृशन्निह पश्यामि बहुदोषतरं वनम्।।2.28.25।।

Thus forest life is not suitable for you. On reconsideration, I see that there are many dangers in f...

वनन्तु नेतुं न कृता मतिस्तदा बभूव रामेण यदा महात्मना। न तस्य सीता वचनं चकार त त्ततोऽब्रवीद्राममिदं स...

When the great Rama decided not to take her along with him to the forest, Sita, deeply grieved said ...