Valmiki Ramayana 2.28.23: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 28, Shloka 23

सीतानिवर्तनप्रयत्नः · Rama’s Attempt to Dissuade Sita from Forest Exile

Devanagari script

कायक्लेशाश्च बहवो भयानि विविधानि च ।

अरण्यवासे वसतो दुःखमेव ततो वनम् ॥२३॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.28.23

Transliteration

kāyakleśāś ca bahavo bhayāni vividhāni ca |

araṇyavāse vasato duḥkham eva tato vanam ||23||

Translation

അരണ്യത്തിൽ വസിക്കുന്നവന് അനവധി ദേഹക്ലേശങ്ങളും പലവിധ ഭയങ്ങളും ഉണ്ടാകുന്നു; അതുകൊണ്ട് വനം നിശ്ചയമായും ദുഃഖമേയാണ്.

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Word by Word

• kāyakleśāḥ: physical hardships
• kāyakleśāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject, item in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāya (काय) + kleśa (क्लेश)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (bodily afflictions); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (and)

• bahavaḥ: many
• bahavaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; qualifies kāyakleśāḥ

• bhayāni: fears
• bhayāni: Karta (कर्ता/Subject, item in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• vividhāni: various
• vividhāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; qualifies bhayāni

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (and)

• araṇyavāse: in forest-dwelling
• araṇyavāse: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: araṇya (अरण्य) + vāsa (वास)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (forest-dwelling); Puṃliṅga, Saptamī vibhakti, Ekavacana

• vasataḥ: of one living
• vasataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vas (वस् धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ प्रत्यय)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (present active participle), Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive/6th), Ekavacana; 'of one who lives'

• duḥkham: misery
• duḥkham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate noun/adjective for vanam

• eva: only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (emphasis: 'only/indeed')

• tataḥ: therefore
• tataḥ: Hetu (हेतु/Reason marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (therefore)

• vanam: forest life
• vanam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

Context

There are various physical afflictions and fears for one who lives in the forest. Therefore, forest brings suffering.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• araṇya (wilderness)
• vana (forest)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

It teaches prudent dharma: decisions should be guided by truthful recognition of consequences, especially where unnecessary suffering may result.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma summarizes the physical and psychological hardships of araṇyavāsa to persuade Sītā to stay in Ayodhyā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protective care combined with truthful speech—Rāma warns without exaggeration, aiming at Sītā’s welfare.