Shloka 2.28.9
सीतानिवर्तनप्रयत्नः — Rama’s Attempt to Dissuade Sita from Forest Exile
सग्राहा स्सरितश्चैव पङ्कवत्यस्सु दुस्तराः। मत्तैरपि गजैर्नित्यमतो दुःखतरं वनम्।।2.28.9।।
sagrāhāḥ saritaś caiva paṅkavatyaś ca su-dustarāḥ | mattair api gajair nityam ato duḥkhataraṃ vanam || 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.
The rivers, infested with crocodiles and filled with mud are difficult to cross even for elephants in rut. Hence forest life is always extremely dangerous.
Dharma here appears as protective responsibility and practical wisdom: Rāma stresses real dangers so that a loved one is not drawn into suffering through idealism alone.
On the eve of exile, Rāma tries to dissuade Sītā from accompanying him by describing the perils of forest travel, especially dangerous river-crossings.
Rāma’s foresight and guardianship—his concern to shield Sītā by honestly presenting the hardship of vanavāsa (forest-dwelling).