Valmiki Ramayana 2.94.19: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 94, Shloka 19
चित्रकूटवर्णनम् (Description of Chitrakūṭa) / Rama Shows Sita Chitrakuta
इदमेवामृतं प्राहू राज्ञि राजर्षयः परे।वनवासं भवार्थाय प्रेत्य मे प्रपितामहाः।।।।
idam evāmṛtaṃ prāhur rājñi rājarṣayaḥ pare | vanavāsaṃ bhavārthāya pretya me prapitāmahāḥ ||
मेरे पुरखे, जो राजा थे और रिशि भी, वो कहते थे कि राजा के लिए जंगल में रहना बहुत अच्छा होता है। यह अमृत जैसा है। मरने के बाद भी यह इंसान को ऊँचा ले जाता है।
My greatgrandfathers and ancient royal sages used to say that living in the forest is like enjoying nectar for a king for the best existence after death.
FAQs
Dharma is portrayed as disciplined acceptance of hardship for a higher good: forest-life, when embraced in truth and restraint, becomes spiritually fruitful—even ‘nectar’—rather than mere suffering.
Rāma encourages Sītā during their stay at Citrakūṭa by citing ancestral tradition that values forest-dwelling as beneficial for a ruler’s spiritual destiny.
Rāma’s steadiness (dhṛti) and reverence for tradition—he interprets exile through the lens of inherited wisdom and ethical purpose.
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