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.
आदेशो वनवासस्य प्राप्तव्यः स मया किल। सा त्वया सह भर्त्राहं यास्यामि प्रिय नान्यथा
It is said that I must receive the command for forest dwelling; so, with you, my husband, I will go—there is no other way, my beloved.
कृतादेशा भविष्यामि गमिष्यामि त्वया सह। कालश्चायं समुत्पन्नः सत्यवान् भवतु द्विजः
I will fulfill that command and depart with you; the time has come, let the brāhmaṇa's prophecy be true.
वनवासे हि जानामि दुःखानि बहुधा किल। प्राप्यन्ते नियतं वीर पुरुषैरकृतात्मभिः
I know that many hardships are found in forest life, O hero, and are surely endured by those whose minds are untrained.
कन्यया च पितुर्गेहे वनवासः श्रुतो मया। भिक्षिण्याः शमवृत्ताया मम मातुरिहाग्रतः
As a maiden in my father's house, I heard of forest dwelling from a mendicant woman, gentle in conduct, before my mother here.
प्रसादितश्च वै पूर्वं त्वं मे बहुतिथं प्रभो। गमनं वनवासस्य कांक्षितं हि सह त्वया
You have been entreated by me many times before, O lord, for the journey to the forest, for I long to go with you.
कृतक्षणाहं भद्रं ते गमनं प्रति राघव। वनवासस्य शूरस्य मम चर्या हि रोचते
I am prepared, O Rāghava, for the journey; the forest life of a hero appeals to me.
शुद्धात्मन् प्रेमभावाद्धि भविष्यामि विकल्मषा। भर्तारमनुगच्छन्ती भर्ता हि परदैवतम्
With a pure heart and out of love, I will remain free from sin, following my husband, for the husband is the highest deity.
प्रेत्यभावे हि कल्याणः संगमो मे सदा त्वया। श्रुतिर्हि श्रूयते पुण्या ब्राह्मणानां यशस्विनाम्
Even after death, O blessed one, my union with you will endure; for such is heard in the sacred teachings of renowned brāhmaṇas.
इहलोके च पितृभिर्या स्त्री यस्य महाबल। अद्भिर्दत्ता स्वधर्मेण प्रेत्यभावेऽपि तस्य सा
In this world, the woman whom a man receives from his fathers, through water and according to his own duty, remains his even after death.
एवमस्मात् स्वकां नारीं सुवृत्तां हि पतिव्रताम्। नाभिरोचयसे नेतुं त्वं मां केनेह हेतुना
Thus, from your own household, you do not wish to take me, a virtuous and devoted wife—by what reason here?