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.
यथालब्धेन कर्तव्यः संतोषस्तेन मैथिलि। यताहारैर्वनचरैः सीते दुःखमतो वनम्
Contentment must be maintained with whatever is obtained, O Maithili, and with whatever food is found in the forest—thus, Sita, the forest is full of hardship.
अतीव वातस्तिमिरं बुभुक्षा चाति नित्यशः। भयानि च महान्त्यत्र ततो दुःखतरं वनम्
There is intense wind, darkness, and constant hunger; and great dangers here—therefore, the forest is even more painful.
सरीसृपाश्च बहवो बहुरूपाश्च भामिनि। चरन्ति पथि ते दर्पात् ततो दुःखतरं वनम्
Many serpents, of various forms, O beautiful one, roam the paths boldly—therefore, the forest is even more painful.
नदीनिलयनाः सर्पा नदीकुटिलगामिनः। तिष्ठन्त्यावृत्य पन्थानमतो दुःखतरंवनम्
Snakes dwelling in rivers, moving along their winding courses, block the way—thus, the forest is even more difficult.
पतङ्गा वृश्चिकाः कीटा दंशाश्च मशकैः सह। बाधन्ते नित्यमबले सर्वं दुःखमतो वनम्
Moths, scorpions, insects, and biting flies always torment the weak—thus, the forest is entirely full of suffering.
द्रुमाः कण्टकिनश्चैव कुशाः काशाश्च भामिनि। वने व्याकुलशाखाग्रास्तेन दुःखमतो वनम्
The trees are thorny, and there are kuśa and kāśa grasses, O beautiful one, with tangled branches in the forest—thus, the forest is full of hardship.
कायक्लेशाश्च बहवो भयानि विविधानि च। अरण्यवासे वसतो दुःखमेव सदा वनम्
There are many bodily hardships and various fears for one dwelling in the wilderness—thus, the forest is always full of suffering.
क्रोधलोभौ विमोक्तव्यौ कर्तव्या तपसे मतिः। न भेतव्यं च भेतव्ये दुःखं नित्यमतो वनम्
Anger and greed must be abandoned, and the mind set on austerity; one must not fear what is fearful—thus, the forest is always full of hardship.
तदलं ते वनं गत्वा क्षेमं नहि वनं तव। विमृशन्निव पश्यामि बहुदोषकरं वनम्
Therefore, it is not fitting for you to go to the forest; there is no safety for you there. As I consider, I see the forest brings many dangers.
वनं तु नेतुं न कृता मतिर्यदा बभूव रामेण तदा महात्मना। न तस्य सीता वचनं चकार तं ततोऽब्रवीद् राममिदं सुदुःखिता
But when Rama, the great-souled one, did not decide to take her to the forest, Sita did not heed his words, and then, deeply distressed, she spoke to Rama.
thumb|एकोनत्रिंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अयोध्याकाण्डे एकोनत्रिंशः सर्गः ॥२-
This is the twenty-ninth chapter in the Ayodhyākāṇḍa of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa.
एतत् तु वचनं श्रुत्वा सीता रामस्य दुःखिता। प्रसक्ताश्रुमुखी मन्दमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Hearing these words, Sītā, distressed, her face streaming with tears, slowly spoke this speech.
ये त्वया कीर्तिता दोषा वने वस्तव्यतां प्रति। गुणानित्येव तान् विद्धि तव स्नेहपुरस्कृता
The faults you have mentioned regarding living in the forest—know that, out of affection for you, I see them as virtues.
मृगाः सिंहा गजाश्चैव शार्दूलाः शरभास्तथा। चमराः सृमराश्चैव ये चान्ये वनचारिणः
Deer, lions, elephants, tigers, sharabhas, camels, and wild boars, as well as other creatures that roam the forest—
अदृष्टपूर्वरूपत्वात् सर्वे ते तव राघव। रूपं दृष्ट्वापसर्पेयुस्तव सर्वे हि बिभ्यति
Because they have never seen your form before, O Rāghava, all of them, upon seeing you, will flee; indeed, all are afraid of you.
त्वया च सह गन्तव्यं मया गुरुजनाज्ञया। त्वद्वियोगेन मे राम त्यक्तव्यमिह जीवितम्
I must go with you, by the command of our elders; if separated from you, Rāma, I must abandon my life here.
नहि मां त्वत्समीपस्थामपि शक्रोऽपि राघव। सुराणामीश्वरः शक्तः प्रधर्षयितुमोजसा
Even Indra, O Rāghava, lord of the gods, could not harm me by force while I am near you.
पतिहीना तु या नारी न सा शक्ष्यति जीवितुम्। काममेवंविधं राम त्वया मम निदर्शितम्
A woman bereft of her husband cannot survive; Rāma, you have shown me such an example.
अथापि च महाप्राज्ञ ब्राह्मणानां मया श्रुतम्। पुरा पितृगृहे सत्यं वस्तव्यं किल मे वने
Moreover, O wise one, I have heard from brāhmaṇas, long ago in my father's house, that I must indeed dwell in the forest.
लक्षणिभ्यो द्विजातिभ्यः श्रुत्वाहं वचनं गृहे। वनवासकृतोत्साहा नित्यमेव महाबल
Hearing this prophecy from learned brāhmaṇas at home, O mighty one, I have always been eager for forest life.