Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 28, Shloka 26
सीतानिवर्तनप्रयत्नः
Rama’s Attempt to Dissuade Sita from Forest Exile
वनन्तु नेतुं न कृता मतिस्तदाबभूव रामेण यदा महात्मना।न तस्य सीता वचनं चकार तत्ततोऽब्रवीद्राममिदं सुदुःखिता।।2.28.26।।
vanaṃ tu netuṃ na kṛtā matis tadā babhūva rāmeṇa yadā mahātmanā |
na tasya sītā vacanaṃ cakāra tat tato ’bravīd rāmam idaṃ suduḥkhitā || 2.28.26 ||
When the great-souled Rāma formed no resolve to take her to the forest, Sītā did not comply with his words; then, deeply distressed, she spoke to Rāma as follows.
Big, wild animals, moving about freely and sporting in the deserted forest, attack on seeing a human. Thus forest is full of danger.
FAQs
It frames a dharmic tension: protective duty versus wifely devotion—setting the stage for reasoned dialogue about what righteousness demands in exile.
A narrative pivot: Rāma refuses to take Sītā to the forest; Sītā, distressed, prepares to answer and argue her case.
Sītā’s steadfast commitment and emotional sincerity, coupled with her readiness to respond through principled speech.