Shloka 2.28.8
सीतानिवर्तनप्रयत्नः — Rama’s Attempt to Dissuade Sita from Forest Exile
क्रीडमानाश्च विस्रब्धा मत्ता श्शून्ये महामृगाः।दृष्ट्वा समभिवर्तन्ते सीते दुःखमतो वनम्।।2.28.8।।
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.
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.