Shloka 2.28.17

सीतानिवर्तनप्रयत्नः — Rama’s Attempt to Dissuade Sita from Forest Exile

Devanagari script

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

Transliteration

upahāraś ca kartavyaḥ kusumaiḥ svayam-āhṛtaiḥ |

ārṣeṇa vidhinā vedyāṃ bāle duḥkham ato vanam ||2.28.16||

Translation

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.

Context

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.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• vedī (altar)
• ṛṣi/ārṣa-vidhi (seers’ injunctions)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma includes faithful performance of prescribed rites with personal effort—offerings are not delegated luxuries but disciplined acts, even in exile.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma stresses that exile entails continuing sacred duties—collecting materials oneself and maintaining altar-offerings.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence and diligence: the willingness to uphold sacred practice through one’s own labor.