Shloka 2.37.19
अयोध्याकाण्डे सर्गः ३७ — चीरधारणं, सीतासंकल्पः, वसिष्ठोपदेशः (Bark-Robe Episode and Vasistha’s Admonition)
कुरु नो याचनां पुत्र सीता तिष्ठतु भामिनी।धर्मनित्यस्स्वयं स्थातुं न हीदानीं त्वमिच्छसि।।2.37.19।।
lakṣmaṇena sahāyena vanaṁ gacchasva putraka | naiyam arhati kalyāṇī vastuṁ tāpasavad vane || 2.37.18 ||
“Go to the forest, dear son, with Lakshmana as your companion; but this auspicious Sita is not fit to live in the forest like an ascetic.”
Do accede to our prayer. Let lovely Sita stay with us as you, O son! faithful to yourduty, will not like to remain here.
Dharma includes protective responsibility: the women distinguish Rama’s duty-bound exile from Sita’s welfare, urging that compassion should limit suffering.
The women propose that Rama go with Lakshmana, but request that Sita remain in the palace rather than endure ascetic hardship.
Rakṣā-bhāva (protective concern) toward Sita and practical wisdom about the hardships of forest asceticism.