Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 28, Shloka 22
सीतानिवर्तनप्रयत्नः
Rama’s Attempt to Dissuade Sita from Forest Exile
द्रुमाः कण्टकिनश्चैव कुशा: काशाश्च भामिनि।वने व्याकुलशाखाग्रास्तेन दुःखतरं वनम्।।2.28.22।।
drumāḥ kaṇṭakinaś caiva kuśāḥ kāśāś ca bhāmini |
vane vyākula-śākhāgrās tena duḥkhataraṃ vanam ||2.28.22||
Wahai jelita, di rimba itu ada pohon-pohon berduri, rumput kuśa dan alang-alang kāśa; pucuk-pucuknya pun kusut oleh ranting yang saling bertaut—maka hidup di hutan amatlah berat dan menyakitkan.
O lovely Sita! there are thorny trees with branches on the top interlaced with one another. There are kusa grass and reeds. So forest life is very hard.
FAQs
Dharma-based guidance is grounded in reality: one should not choose a path (like exile) without understanding its concrete hardships.
Rāma continues detailing the forest terrain—thorny growth and tangled thickets—to persuade Sītā to remain safe.
Responsibility—Rāma tries to shield Sītā by truthful, detailed counsel.