Shloka 2.28.26
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।।
hitabuddhyā khalu vaco mayaitad abhidhīyate |
sadā sukhaṃ na jānāmi duḥkham eva sadā vanam || 2.28.6 ||
I speak these words with your welfare in mind. I know no lasting happiness in the forest—there the forest is ever only suffering.
When the great Rama decided not to take her along with him to the forest, Sita, deeply grieved said these words.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē aṣṭāviṅśassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the twentyeighth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.
Truth spoken for another’s good (hita + satya): Rāma frames his discouragement as compassionate truth rather than harsh refusal.
Rāma clarifies that his warnings are motivated by concern, asserting that forest life is dominated by hardship.
Compassionate honesty—speaking difficult truths to protect a loved one.