सुखं वने निवत्स्यामि यथैव भवने पितुः। अचिन्तयन्ती त्रीँल्लोकांश्चिन्तयन्ती पतिव्रतम्
I will dwell happily in the forest, just as in my father's house, caring nothing for the three worlds, thinking only of my devotion to my husband.
शुश्रूषमाणा ते नित्यं नियता ब्रह्मचारिणी। सह रंस्ये त्वया वीर वनेषु मधुगन्धिषु
Serving you always, disciplined and observing chastity, I will delight with you, O hero, in the honey-scented woods.
त्वं हि कर्तुं वने शक्तो राम सम्परिपालनम्। अन्यस्यापि जनस्येह किं पुनर्मम मानद
You, Rāma, are able to protect even others in the forest—how much more so me, O giver of honor!
साहं त्वया गमिष्यामि वनमद्य न संशयः। नाहं शक्या महाभाग निवर्तयितुमुद्यता
Therefore, I will go with you to the forest today, without doubt; O greatly fortunate one, I cannot be turned back once I am resolved.
फलमूलाशना नित्यं भविष्यामि न संशयः। न ते दुःखं करिष्यामि निवसन्ती त्वया सदा
I will always subsist on fruits and roots, without doubt; I will not cause you any distress, dwelling with you constantly.
अग्रतस्ते गमिष्यामि भोक्ष्ये भुक्तवति त्वयि। इच्छामि परतः शैलान् पल्वलानि सरांसि च
I will walk ahead of you, and eat only after you have eaten; afterwards, I wish to see mountains, ponds, and lakes.
द्रष्टुं सर्वत्र निर्भीता त्वया नाथेन धीमता। हंसकारण्डवाकीर्णाः पद्मिनीः साधुपुष्पिताः
With you as my wise protector, I will fearlessly behold everywhere the lotus ponds, filled with swans and cranes, blooming beautifully.
इच्छेयं सुखिनी द्रष्टुं त्वया वीरेण संगता। अभिषेकं करिष्यामि तासु नित्यमनुव्रता
Joined with you, O hero, I wish to happily see them; I will perform ablutions in those ponds, always devoted to you.
सह त्वया विशालाक्ष रंस्ये परमनन्दिनी। एवं वर्षसहस्राणि शतं वापि त्वया सह
With you, O wide-eyed one, I will delight in supreme happiness; thus, for a thousand years or even a hundred, together with you.
व्यतिक्रमं न वेत्स्यामि स्वर्गोऽपि हि न मे मतः। स्वर्गेऽपि च विना वासो भविता यदि राघव। त्वया विना नरव्याघ्र नाहं तदपि रोचये
I will not transgress; even heaven does not appeal to me. If residence in heaven were possible without you, O Rāghava, O tiger among men, I would not desire even that.
अहं गमिष्यामि वनं सुदुर्गमं मृगायुतं वानरवारणैश्च। वने निवत्स्यामि यथा पितुर्गृहे तवैव पादावुपगृह्य सम्मता
I will go to the forest, though it is exceedingly difficult, filled with deer, monkeys, and elephants; I will dwell there as in my father's house, holding your feet, with your approval.
अनन्यभावामनुरक्तचेतसं त्वया वियुक्तां मरणाय निश्चिताम्। नयस्व मां साधु कुरुष्व याचनां नातो मया ते गुरुता भविष्यति
With unwavering devotion and a heart attached to you, separated from you, I am resolved to die; take me, kindly grant my request, and by me your burden will not be increased.
तथा ब्रुवाणामपि धर्मवत्सलां न च स्म सीतां नृवरो निनीषति। उवाच चैनां बहु संनिवर्तने वने निवासस्य च दुःखितां प्रति
Though she spoke thus, full of righteousness, the foremost of men did not wish to take Sītā; he spoke many words to dissuade her, addressing her sorrow over dwelling in the forest.
thumb|अष्टाविंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अयोध्याकाण्डे अष्टाविंशः सर्गः ॥२-
The twenty-eighth chapter is to be heard.
स एवं ब्रुवतीं सीतां धर्मज्ञां धर्मवत्सलः। न नेतुं कुरुते बुद्धिं वने दुःखानि चिन्तयन्
He, loving righteousness, seeing Sītā speak thus and knowing her virtue, did not resolve to take her, pondering the hardships of the forest.
सान्त्वयित्वा ततस्तां तु बाष्पदूषितलोचनाम्। निवर्तनार्थे धर्मात्मा वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह
Then, comforting her whose eyes were stained with tears, the righteous one spoke these words to persuade her to stay.
सीते महाकुलीनासि धर्मे च निरता सदा। इहाचरस्व धर्मं त्वं यथा मे मनसः सुखम्
Sītā, you are of noble lineage and always devoted to righteousness; remain here and practice virtue so that my mind may be at ease.
सीते यथा त्वां वक्ष्यामि तथा कार्यं त्वयाबले। वने दोषा हि बहवो वसतस्तान् निबोध मे
Sītā, you must do as I tell you, O gentle one; listen, for there are many dangers in the forest for those who dwell there.
सीते विमुच्यतामेषा वनवासकृता मतिः। बहुदोषं हि कान्तारं वनमित्यभिधीयते
Sītā, let go of this intention for forest dwelling; the wilderness is called so because it is full of dangers.
हितबुद्ध्या खलु वचो मयैतदभिधीयते। सदा सुखं न जानामि दुःखमेव सदा वनम्
I speak this out of concern and wise counsel; I never know happiness there, only sorrow always in the forest.
गिरिनिर्झरसम्भूता गिरिनिर्दरिवासिनाम्। सिंहानां निनदा दुःखाः श्रोतुं दुःखमतो वनम्
The roars of lions, born from mountain streams and living in mountain caves, are painful to hear; thus, the forest is distressing.
क्रीडमानाश्च विस्रब्धा मत्ताः शून्ये तथा मृगाः। दृष्ट्वा समभिवर्तन्ते सीते दुःखमतो वनम्
Wild animals, fearless and intoxicated, play in deserted places; seeing them, Sītā, the forest is therefore sorrowful.
सग्राहाः सरितश्चैव पङ्कवत्यस्तु दुस्तराः। मत्तैरपि गजैर्नित्यमतो दुःखतरं वनम्
The rivers, filled with crocodiles, are muddy and hard to cross; even for elephants, the forest is more difficult and full of suffering.
लताकण्टकसंकीर्णाः कृकवाकूपनादिताः। निरपाश्च सुदुःखाश्च मार्गा दुःखमतो वनम्
The paths are overgrown with thorny vines, echoing with the cries of peacocks, lacking water and exceedingly hard—thus, the forest is full of hardship.
सुप्यते पर्णशय्यासु स्वयंभग्नासु भूतले। रात्रिषु श्रमखिन्नेन तस्माद् दुःखमतो वनम्
One sleeps on beds of leaves, broken and scattered on the ground, weary from toil at night—therefore, the forest is even more painful.
अहोरात्रं च संतोषः कर्तव्यो नियतात्मना। फलैर्वृक्षावपतितैः सीते दुःखमतो वनम्
Day and night, one must be content, with self-restraint, living on fruits fallen from trees—thus, Sita, the forest is full of hardship.
उपवासश्च कर्तव्यो यथा प्राणेन मैथिलि। जटाभारश्च कर्तव्यो वल्कलाम्बरधारणम्
Fasting must be observed as long as life endures, O Maithili, and one must bear matted hair and wear garments of bark.
देवतानां पितॄणां च कर्तव्यं विधिपूर्वकम्। प्राप्तानामतिथीनां च नित्यशः प्रतिपूजनम्
Rites for the gods and ancestors must be performed according to rule, and arriving guests must always be honored.
कार्यस्त्रिरभिषेकश्च काले काले च नित्यशः। चरतां नियमेनैव तस्माद् दुःखतरं वनम्
A thrice-daily bath must be performed at the proper times, always with discipline by those dwelling there—thus, the forest is even more difficult.
उपहारश्च कर्तव्यः कुसुमैः स्वयमाहृतैः। आर्षेण विधिना वेद्यां सीते दुःखमतो वनम्
Offerings must be made with flowers gathered by oneself, according to the Vedic rite upon the altar—thus, Sita, the forest is full of hardship.