Shloka 2.27.23
सीताया वनगमननिश्चयः (Sita’s Resolve to Accompany Rama to the Forest)
तथा ब्रुवाणामपि धर्मवत्सलोन च स्म सीतां नृवरो निनीषति।उवाच चैनां बहु सन्निवर्तनेवने निवासस्य च दुःखितां प्रति।।।।
tathā bruvāṇām api dharmavatsalo na ca sma sītāṃ nṛvaro ninīṣati |
uvāca caināṃ bahu sannivartane vane nivāsasya ca duḥkhitāṃ prati ||
Even as Sītā pleaded in this way, Rāma—devoted to dharma—still would not take her along. Seeking to dissuade her, he spoke at length to the grieving Sītā about the many hardships of living in the forest.
Although Sita was thus appealing, Rama, devoted to righteousness, was (still) unwilling to take her. In order to dissuade her, he began to describe to the mournful Sita the many hardships of forest life.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē saptaviṅśassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the twentyseventh sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.
Rāma prioritizes dharma and responsible judgment over emotion: even when moved by Sītā’s pleas, he considers the real hardships and risks of forest-life and tries to prevent harm.
On the eve of exile, Sītā insists on accompanying Rāma. Rāma remains reluctant and begins explaining the suffering and danger of living in the wilderness to dissuade her.
Rāma’s dharma-vatsalatā (deep commitment to righteousness) and protective compassion: he speaks at length to safeguard Sītā from foreseeable hardship.