Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 28

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

sa evaṃ bruvatīṃ sītāṃ dharmajño dharmavatsalaḥ| na netuṃ kurute buddhiṃ vane duḥkhāni cintayan

Rama, who knew his duties and was devoted to righteousness, reflected on the difficulties of forest (life) and did not agree to take Sita even though she was pleading the way she did.

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

sāntvayitvā punastāṃ tu bāṣpadūṣitalocanām| nivartanārthe dharmātmā vākyametaduvāca ha

Righteous Rama consoled Sita whose eyes were blurred with tears, and in order to dissuade her (from going to the forest) said again:

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

sīte mahākulīnā'si dharme ca niratā sadā| ihā'cara svadharmaṃ tvaṃ me yathā manasassukham

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

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

sīte yathā tvāṃ vakṣyāmi tathā kāryaṃ tvayā'bale| vane hi bahavo doṣā vadatastānnibodha me

Do as I tell you, O delicate Sita. There are, indeed, many hardships in the forest. I shall tell you all about them. Listen to me.

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

sīte vimucyatāmeṣā vanavāsakṛtā matiḥ| bahudoṣaṃ hi kāntāraṃ vanamityabhidhīyate

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

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

hitabuddhyā khalu vaco mayaitadabhidhīyate| sadā sukhaṃ na jānāmi duḥkhameva sadā vanam

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

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

girinirjharasambhūtā girikandara vāsinām| siṃhānāṃ ninadā duḥkhā śśrotuṃ duḥkhamato vanam

It is frightening to hear the sounds of waterfalls and the roar of lions living in the mountain caves. Therefore forest life is painful (fearful).

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

krīḍamānāśca visrabdhā mattā śśūnye mahāmṛgāḥ| dṛṣṭvā samabhivartante sīte duḥkhamato vanam

Big, wild animals, moving about freely and sporting in the deserted forest, attack on seeing a human. Thus forest is full of danger.

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

sagrāhā ssaritaścaiva paṅkavatyassu dustarāḥ| mattairapi gajairnityamato duḥkhataraṃ vanam

The rivers, infested with crocodiles and filled with mud are difficult to cross even for elephants in rut. Hence forest life is always extremely dangerous.

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

latākaṇṭakasaṅkīrṇāḥ kṛkavākūpanāditāḥ| nirapāśca sudurgāśca mārgā duḥkhamato vanam

. The paths full of thorny creepers, echoing with the noise of wild fowls, and with no water (to drink) are difficult to tread. So forest is a source of suffering.

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

supyate parṇaśayyāsu svayaṃ bhagnāsu bhūtale| rātriṣu śramakhinnena tasmādduḥkhataraṃ vanam

Exhausted with struggles one has to sleep at night on a bed of leaves fallen on their own on the ground. Therefore, forest life is extremely painful.

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

ahorātraṃ ca santoṣaḥ kartavyo niyatātmanā| phalairvṛkṣāvapatitai ssīte duḥkhamato vanam

With the senses under control night and day, O Sita, one must be satisfied with the fruits fallen from trees. Therefore, forest life is full of suffering.

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

upavāsaśca kartavyo yathā prāṇena maithili| jaṭābhāraśca kartavyo valkalāmbaradhāriṇā

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

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

devatānāṃ pitrūṇāṃ kartavyaṃ vidhipūrvakam| prāptānāmatithīnāṃ ca nityaśaḥ pratipūjanam

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

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

kāryastrirabhiṣekaśca kāle kāle ca nityaśaḥ| caratā niyamenaiva tasmāddhuḥkhataraṃ vanam

One has to wander about all the while (like an ascetic) as per the customs and take ablutions three times a day at prescribed hours. Hence life in the forest is extremely hard.

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

upahāraśca kartavyaḥ kusumai ssvayamāhṛtaiḥ| ārṣeṇa vidhinā vedyāṃ bāle duḥkhamato vanam

Flowers collected with one's own hands, O innocent one, should be offered on the altar as per injunction of the Vedas. Therefore (life in the) forest is difficult.

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

yathālabdhena kartavyaḥ santoṣastena maithili| yatāhārairvanacarai rnityaṃ duḥkhamato vanam

The wanderers in the jungle, O daughter of Mithila, have to be satisfied daily with whatever little food is available. So forest (life) is a hard life.

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

atīva vātāstimiraṃ bubhukṣā cātra nityaśaḥ| bhayāni ca mahāntyatra tato duḥkhataraṃ vanam

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।।

sarīsṛpāśca bahavo bahurūpāśca bhāmini| caranti pṛthivīṃ darpāttato duḥkhataraṃ vanam

There are various forms of fierce reptiles fearlessly crawling on the ground. So (living in the) forest is extremely dangerous.

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

nadī nilayanā ssarpā nadīkuṭilagāminaḥ| tiṣaṭhntyāvṛtya panthānaṃ tato duḥkhataraṃ vanam||.2.28.20||

The serpents that live in and move like meandering rivers always obstruct the paths. Therefore, living in the forest is tremendously difficult.

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

pataṅgā vṛścikāḥ kīṭā daṃśāśca maśakai ssaha| bādhante nityamabale sarvaṃ duḥkhamato vanam

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

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

drumāḥ kaṇṭakinaścaiva kuśā: kāśāśca bhāmini| vane vyākulaśākhāgrāstena duḥkhataraṃ vanam

O lovely Sita there are thorny trees with branches on the top interlaced with one another. There are kusa grass and reeds. So forest life is very hard.

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

kāyakleśāśca bahavo bhayāni vividhāni ca| araṇyavāse vasato duḥkhameva tato vanam

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

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

krodhalobhau vimoktavyau kartavyā tapase matiḥ| na bhetavyaṃ ca bhetavye nityaṃ duḥkhamato vanam

Anger and greed have to be given up, with the mind preoccupied with ascetic practices. One should not be afraid of fearful situations. Hence forest (life) always very hard.

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

tadalaṃ te vanaṃ gatvā kṣamaṃ na hi vanaṃ tava| vimṛśanniha paśyāmi bahudoṣataraṃ vanam

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

वनन्तु नेतुं न कृता मतिस्तदा बभूव रामेण यदा महात्मना। न तस्य सीता वचनं चकार त त्ततोऽब्रवीद्राममिदं सुदुःखिता।।2.28.26।।

vanantu netuṃ na kṛtā matistadā babhūva rāmeṇa yadā mahātmanā| na tasya sītā vacanaṃ cakāra ta ttato'bravīdrāmamidaṃ suduḥkhitā

When the great Rama decided not to take her along with him to the forest, Sita, deeply grieved said these words. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे अष्टाविंशस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the twentyeighth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.