सीतानिवर्तनप्रयत्नः — Rama’s Attempt to Dissuade Sita from Forest Exile
अयोध्याकाण्ड
Sarga 28 is constructed as a persuasive discourse in which Rāma responds to Sītā’s pleading by refusing, at first, to take her to the forest. Identified as dharmajña and dharmavatsala, he reflects on the concrete hardships of araṇyavāsa and frames his refusal as protective prudence rather than rejection (2.28.1–2). He instructs Sītā to remain in Ayodhyā and follow her svadharma, asserting that her compliance would bring him inner peace (2.28.3–5). The chapter then catalogs forest adversities as an evidentiary list: frightening natural sounds (waterfalls, lions), aggressive wild animals, crocodile-infested and muddy rivers, thorny and waterless paths, austere sleeping on leaf-beds, regulated subsistence on fallen fruits, fasting, bark garments and matted hair, ritual obligations to gods/ancestors/guests, thrice-daily ablutions, Vedic offerings of self-gathered flowers, limited food, darkness, wind, hunger, reptiles/serpents, and biting insects (2.28.6–24). The argument culminates in a normative judgment: the forest is “bahudoṣatara,” unfit for Sītā (2.28.25). The closing verse marks Sītā’s noncompliance and her grief-driven reply, transitioning to her counter-argument in the next movement (2.28.26).
Verse 2.28.1
स एवं ब्रुवतीं सीतां धर्मज्ञो धर्मवत्सलः।न नेतुं कुरुते बुद्धिं वने दुःखानि चिन्तयन्।।2.28.1।।
Though Sītā spoke in this manner, Rāma—knowing dharma and devoted to it—reflected on the sufferings of forest life and did not resolve to take her along.
Verse 2.28.2
सान्त्वयित्वा पुनस्तां तु बाष्पदूषितलोचनाम्।निवर्तनार्थे धर्मात्मा वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह।।2.28.2।।
O fair one, many reptiles of many kinds roam the ground fiercely; therefore life in the forest is even more perilous.
Verse 2.28.3
सीते महाकुलीनाऽसि धर्मे च निरता सदा।इहाऽचर स्वधर्मं त्वं मे यथा मनसस्सुखम्।।2.28.3।।
The sounds—born of mountain waterfalls and the roars of lions that dwell in rocky caves—are painful and frightening to hear; therefore, life in the forest is suffering.
Verse 2.28.4
सीते यथा त्वां वक्ष्यामि तथा कार्यं त्वयाऽबले। वने हि बहवो दोषा वदतस्तान्निबोध मे।।2.28.4।।
In the lonely forest, great wild beasts—fearless and intoxicated in their freedom—sport about and, on seeing a person, rush to attack. Therefore, the forest is suffering.
Verse 2.28.5
सीते विमुच्यतामेषा वनवासकृता मतिः।बहुदोषं हि कान्तारं वनमित्यभिधीयते।।2.28.5।।
For one who dwells in the wilderness, many bodily afflictions arise, along with fears of many kinds; therefore, the forest proves to be suffering indeed.
Verse 2.28.6
हितबुद्ध्या खलु वचो मयैतदभिधीयते।सदा सुखं न जानामि दुःखमेव सदा वनम्।।2.28.6।।
Anger and greed must be relinquished, and the mind must be fixed on austerity; even amid fearful circumstances one must not succumb to fear. Therefore, forest life is unceasing hardship.
Verse 2.28.7
गिरिनिर्झरसम्भूता गिरिकन्दर वासिनाम्।सिंहानां निनदा दुःखा श्श्रोतुं दुःखमतो वनम्।।2.28.7।।
Therefore, it is enough—do not go to the forest; forest life is not truly suitable for you. Reflecting on it here, I see the wilderness to be even more fraught with dangers and faults.
Verse 2.28.8
क्रीडमानाश्च विस्रब्धा मत्ता श्शून्ये महामृगाः।दृष्ट्वा समभिवर्तन्ते सीते दुःखमतो वनम्।।2.28.8।।
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.
Verse 2.28.9
सग्राहा स्सरितश्चैव पङ्कवत्यस्सु दुस्तराः। मत्तैरपि गजैर्नित्यमतो दुःखतरं वनम्।।2.28.9।।
Rivers—haunted by crocodiles and thick with mud—are exceedingly hard to cross, even for elephants in rut. Therefore life in the forest is, at all times, fraught with greater danger and hardship.
Verse 2.28.10
लताकण्टकसङ्कीर्णाः कृकवाकूपनादिताः।निरपाश्च सुदुर्गाश्च मार्गा दुःखमतो वनम्।।2.28.10।।
The paths are choked with thorny creepers, resounding with the cries of wild birds, waterless and extremely hard to traverse; therefore the forest is a place of suffering.
Verse 2.28.11
सुप्यते पर्णशय्यासु स्वयं भग्नासु भूतले।रात्रिषु श्रमखिन्नेन तस्माद्दुःखतरं वनम्।।2.28.11।।
At night, worn out by toil, one must sleep on the bare ground upon beds of leaves that have fallen of themselves; therefore the forest is even more painful.
Verse 2.28.12
अहोरात्रं च सन्तोषः कर्तव्यो नियतात्मना।फलैर्वृक्षावपतितै स्सीते दुःखमतो वनम्।।2.28.12।।
Day and night, with the senses restrained, one must remain content with fruits that have fallen from trees, O Sītā; therefore the forest is a life of suffering.
Verse 2.28.13
उपवासश्च कर्तव्यो यथा प्राणेन मैथिलि।जटाभारश्च कर्तव्यो वल्कलाम्बरधारिणा।।2.28.13।।
Fasting too must be undertaken according to one’s strength, O Maithilī; and one who wears bark-garments must also bear the burden of matted hair (jaṭā).
Verse 2.28.14
देवतानां पित्रूणां कर्तव्यं विधिपूर्वकम्।प्राप्तानामतिथीनां च नित्यशः प्रतिपूजनम्।।2.28.14।।
Having consoled Sītā, whose eyes were clouded with tears, the righteous-souled Rāma spoke these words again, intending to dissuade her from following him to the forest.
Verse 2.28.15
कार्यस्त्रिरभिषेकश्च काले काले च नित्यशः।चरता नियमेनैव तस्माद्धुःखतरं वनम्।।2.28.15।।
One must duly perform worship for the gods and the ancestors, and one must also continually honor guests who arrive.
Verse 2.28.16
उपहारश्च कर्तव्यः कुसुमै स्स्वयमाहृतैः।आर्षेण विधिना वेद्यां बाले दुःखमतो वनम्।।2.28.16।।
Living by strict rule while moving about, one must perform ablutions three times daily at the appointed times; therefore, life in the forest is even more arduous.
Verse 2.28.17
यथालब्धेन कर्तव्यः सन्तोषस्तेन मैथिलि।यताहारैर्वनचरै र्नित्यं दुःखमतो वनम्।।2.28.17।।
One must make offerings on the altar according to the seers’ injunctions, using flowers gathered by one’s own hands; thus, O innocent one, forest-life is hardship.
Verse 2.28.18
अतीव वातास्तिमिरं बुभुक्षा चात्र नित्यशः।भयानि च महान्त्यत्र ततो दुःखतरं वनम्।।2.28.18।।
O Maithilī, those who dwell in the forest, living on scant fare, must be content with whatever is obtained; therefore life in the forest is a constant hardship.
Verse 2.28.19
सरीसृपाश्च बहवो बहुरूपाश्च भामिनि।चरन्ति पृथिवीं दर्पात्ततो दुःखतरं वनम्।।2.28.19।।
There are fierce winds, darkness, and constant hunger there, and great dangers as well; therefore life in the forest is exceedingly difficult.
Verse 2.28.20
नदी निलयना स्सर्पा नदीकुटिलगामिनः।तिषठ्न्त्यावृत्य पन्थानं ततो दुःखतरं वनम्।।.2.28.20।।
Serpents that dwell in rivers and move with river-like winding turns block the paths and lie in wait; therefore life in the forest is exceedingly hard.
Verse 2.28.21
पतङ्गा वृश्चिकाः कीटा दंशाश्च मशकै स्सह।बाधन्ते नित्यमबले सर्वं दुःखमतो वनम्।।2.28.21।।
Birds, scorpions, insects, biting gnats, and mosquitoes constantly torment everyone there, O helpless one; therefore the forest is sheer suffering.
Verse 2.28.22
द्रुमाः कण्टकिनश्चैव कुशा: काशाश्च भामिनि।वने व्याकुलशाखाग्रास्तेन दुःखतरं वनम्।।2.28.22।।
O fair one, in the forest there are thorny trees, kuśa grass and kāśa reeds, and treetops whose branches are tangled; therefore life in the forest is exceedingly difficult.
Verse 2.28.23
कायक्लेशाश्च बहवो भयानि विविधानि च।अरण्यवासे वसतो दुःखमेव ततो वनम्।।2.28.23।।
O Sītā, you are born of a noble lineage and are ever devoted to dharma. Therefore remain here and practice your own rightful duty, so that my mind may be at peace.
Verse 2.28.24
क्रोधलोभौ विमोक्तव्यौ कर्तव्या तपसे मतिः।न भेतव्यं च भेतव्ये नित्यं दुःखमतो वनम्।।2.28.24।।
O Sītā, gentle one—do exactly as I tell you. The forest indeed has many hardships; listen carefully as I explain them to you.
Verse 2.28.25
तदलं ते वनं गत्वा क्षमं न हि वनं तव।विमृशन्निह पश्यामि बहुदोषतरं वनम्।।2.28.25।।
O Sītā, abandon this resolve of dwelling in the forest. For the wilderness is called a forest precisely because it is filled with many dangers and hardships.
Verse 2.28.26
वनन्तु नेतुं न कृता मतिस्तदाबभूव रामेण यदा महात्मना।न तस्य सीता वचनं चकार तत्ततोऽब्रवीद्राममिदं सुदुःखिता।।2.28.26।।
I speak these words with your welfare in mind. I know no lasting happiness in the forest—there the forest is ever only suffering.