Sloka & Translation

[Rama relates to Sita the hardships of forest life-- dissuades her from accompanying him to the forest.]

sa ēvaṅ bruvatīṅ sītāṅ dharmajñō dharmavatsalaḥ.

na nētuṅ kurutē buddhiṅ vanē duḥkhāni cintayan৷৷2.28.1৷৷

dharmajñaḥ knower of righteousness, dharmavatsalaḥ devoted to righteousness, saḥ he, ēvam thus, bruvatīm speaking, sītām to Sita, nētum to take, buddhim decision, vanē in the forest, duḥkhāni difficulties, cintayan while reflecting so, na kurutē did not make.

Rama, who knew his duties and was devoted to righteousness, reflected on the difficulties of forest (life) and did not agree to take Sita even though she was pleading the way she did.

sāntvayitvā punastāṅ tu bāṣpadūṣitalōcanām.

nivartanārthē dharmātmā vākyamētaduvāca ha৷৷2.28.2৷৷

dharmātmā righteous, bāṣpadūṣitalōcanām whose eyes were blurred with tears, tām her, sāntvayitvā having consoled, nivartanārthē to dissuade, punaḥ again, ētat this, vākyam word, uvāca ha said.

Righteous Rama consoled Sita whose eyes were blurred with tears, and in order to dissuade her (from going to the forest) said again:

sītē mahākulīnā.si dharmē ca niratā sadā.

ihā.cara svadharmaṅ tvaṅ mē yathā manasassukham৷৷2.28.3৷৷

sītē O Sita, mahākulīnā born in a noble race, sadā always, dharmē to duty ,niratā asi you are devoted, iha here, yathā as, mē manasaḥ to my mind, sukham brings happiness, tvam you, svadharmam your duty, ācara practise.

Born in a noble race, O Sita, you are always devoted to duty. Follow your duty, here. It will make me happy.

sītē! yathā tvāṅ vakṣyāmi tathā kāryaṅ tvayā.balē.

vanē hi bahavō dōṣā vadatastānnibōdha mē৷৷2.28.4৷৷

abalē O frail one, sītē O Sita, tvām you, yathā as, vakṣyāmi I shall tell you, tathā like that, tvayā by you, kāryam should be done, vanē in the forest, bahavaḥ many, dōṣāḥ hi hardships are there
indeed, vadataḥ being told, mē by me, tān about them, nibōdha pray attention.

Do as I tell you, O delicate Sita. There are, indeed, many hardships in the forest. I shall tell you all about them. Listen to me.

sītē! vimucyatāmēṣā vanavāsakṛtā matiḥ.

bahudōṣaṅ hi kāntāraṅ vanamityabhidhīyatē৷৷2.28.5৷৷

sītē O Sita!, vanavāsakṛtā to live in the forest, ēṣā this, mati: mind, vimucyatām give up, kāntāram a dreary forest, vanam forest, bahudōṣaṅ (bahudōṣayutaṅ) has many hardships, abhidhīyatē hi is being said.

Give up the desire to live in the forest, O Sita! Living in the dreary jungle, it is said, has many hardships.

hitabuddhyā khalu vacō mayaitadabhidhīyatē.

sadā sukhaṅ na jānāmi duḥkhamēva sadā vanam৷৷2.28.6৷৷

mayā by me, ētat vacaḥ these words, hitabuddhyā with prudence, abhidhīyatē hi is being said, vanam forest, sadā always, sukham as happy, na jānāmi I do not know, sadā always, duḥkhamēva grief only.

I am saying all this in your interest. The forest is a haven of hardships. I know of no
happiness in the forest.

girinirjharasambhūtā girikandara vāsinām.

siṅhānāṅ ninadā duḥkhā śśrōtuṅ duḥkhamatō vanam৷৷2.28.7৷৷

girinirjharasambhūtāḥ arising from the falling waters from mountains, ninadāḥ sounds, girikandara vāsinām living in the mountain caves, siṅhānām of lions, śrōtum to hear, duḥkhāḥ fearful, ataḥ therefore, vanam forest, duḥkham source of pain, duḥkhamatō painful.

It is frightening to hear the sounds of waterfalls and the roar of lions living in the mountain caves. Therefore forest life is painful (fearful).

krīḍamānāśca visrabdhā mattā śśūnyē mahāmṛgāḥ.

dṛṣṭvā samabhivartantē sītē duḥkhamatō vanam৷৷2.28.8৷৷

visrabdhāḥ fearless, mattāḥ wild, śūnyē in a deserted place, krīḍamānāḥ while sporting, mahāmṛgāḥ great animals, dṛṣṭvā on seeing, samabhivartantē attack, sītē Sita, ataḥ therefore, vanam forest, duḥkham is a source of danger.

Big, wild animals, moving about freely and sporting in the deserted forest, attack on seeing a human. Thus forest is full of danger.

sagrāhā ssaritaścaiva paṅkavatyassu dustarāḥ.

mattairapi gajairnityamatō duḥkhataraṅ vanam৷৷2.28.9৷৷

sagrāhāḥ with crocodiles, paṅkavatyaḥ ca filled with mud, saritaścaiva rivers also, mattai: intoxicated, gajairapi by elephants also, dustarāḥ difficult to cross, ataḥ therefore, vanam the forest, nityam always, duḥkhataram more dangerous.

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.

latākaṇṭakasaṅkīrṇāḥ kṛkavākūpanāditāḥ.

nirapāśca sudurgāśca mārgā duḥkhamatō vanam৷৷2.28.10৷৷

mārgāḥ the paths, latākaṇṭakasaṅkīrṇāḥ full of thorny creepers, kṛkavākūpanāditāḥ echoing with the noise of wild fowls, nirapāḥ with no water, sudurgāḥ ca are extremely difficult to traverse, ataḥ therefore, vanam forest, duḥkham is a difficult place.

.
The paths full of thorny creepers, echoing with the noise of wild fowls, and with no water (to drink) are difficult to tread. So forest is a source of suffering.

supyatē parṇaśayyāsu svayaṅ bhagnāsu bhūtalē.

rātriṣu śramakhinnēna tasmādduḥkhataraṅ vanam৷৷2.28.11৷৷

svayam on their own, bhagnāsu broken (fallen), parṇaśayyāsu bed of leaves, bhūtalē on the ground, śramakhinnēna exhausted with struggles, rātriṣu at night, supyatē will have to sleep, tasmāt therefore, vanam forest life, duḥkhataram is extremely painful.

Exhausted with struggles one has to sleep at night on a bed of leaves fallen on their own on the ground. Therefore, forest life is extremely painful.

ahōrātraṅ ca santōṣaḥ kartavyō niyatātmanā.

phalairvṛkṣāvapatitai ssītē duḥkhamatō vanam৷৷2.28.12৷৷

sītē O Sita, ahōrātram night and day, niyatātmanā with senses under control, vṛkṣāvapatitaiḥ fallen down the trees, phalaiḥ with fruits, santōṣaḥ satisfaction, kartavyaḥ to be derived, ataḥ therefore, vanam forest life, duḥkham is full of suffering.

With the senses under control night and day, O Sita, one must be satisfied with the fruits fallen from trees. Therefore, forest life is full of suffering.

upavāsaśca kartavyō yathā prāṇēna maithili!.

jaṭābhāraśca kartavyō valkalāmbaradhāriṇā৷৷2.28.13৷৷

maithili! O Daughter of Mithila, yathāprāṇēna according to one's ability, upavāsaśca fasting also, kartavyaḥ has to be undertaken, valkalāmbaradhāriṇā wearing robes of bark, jaṭābhāraśca also burden of matted hair, kartavyaḥ has to be borne.

One has to wear robes of bark and matted hair and take to fasting as long as one can, O daughter of Mithila!

dēvatānāṅ pitrūṇāṅ kartavyaṅ vidhipūrvakam.

prāptānāmatithīnāṅ ca nityaśaḥ pratipūjanam৷৷2.28.14৷৷

dēvatānām of devatas, pitrūṇāṅ ca also of ancestors, prāptānām of those arrived, atithīnāṅ ca of guests also, vidhipūrvakam duly, nityaśaḥ always, pratipūjanam worship, kartavyam needs to be done.

One has to worship gods and ancestors according to tradition and extend hospitality to guests, (who arrive unexpectedly).

kāryastrirabhiṣēkaśca kālē kālē ca nityaśaḥ.

caratā niyamēnaiva tasmāddhuḥkhataraṅ vanam৷৷2.28.15৷৷

niyamēnaiva as per rule, caratā while wandering (like an ascetic), nityaśaḥ always, kālē kālē at prescribed hours, triḥ three times, abhiṣēkaḥ bathing, kāryaḥ will have to be done, tasmāt therefore, vanam life in the forest, duḥkhataram is extremely difficult.

One has to wander about all the while (like an ascetic) as per the customs and take ablutions three times a day at prescribed hours. Hence life in the forest is extremely hard.

apahāraśca kartavyaḥ kusumai ssvayamāhṛtaiḥ.

ārṣēṇa vidhinā vēdyāṅ bālē! duḥkhamatō vanam৷৷2.28.16৷৷

bālē O innocent one, svayam on your own, āhṛtaiḥ has been brought, kusumaiḥ with flowers, ārṣēṇa vidhinā as per the injunction of the Vedas, vēdyām on the altar, upahāraśca offering, kartavyaḥ needs to be made, ataḥ therefore, vanam living in the forest, duḥkham is difficult.

Flowers collected with one's own hands, O innocent one, should be offered on the altar as per injunction of the Vedas. Therefore (life in the) forest is difficult.

yathālabdhēna kartavyaḥ santōṣastēna maithili!.

yatāhārairvanacarai rnityaṅ duḥkhamatō vanam৷৷2.28.17৷৷

maithili O daughter of Mithila, vanacaraiḥ by wanderers in the forest, yatāhāraiḥ with limited food, yathālabdhēna whatever is available, tēna with that alone, santōṣaḥ satisfaction, kartavyaḥ should be derived, ataḥ for that reason, vanam forest life, duḥkham is difficult.

The wanderers in the jungle, O daughter of Mithila, have to be satisfied daily with whatever little food is available. So forest (life) is a hard life.

atīva vātāstimiraṅ bubhukṣā cātra nityaśaḥ.

bhayāni ca mahāntyatra tatō duḥkhataraṅ vanam৷৷2.28.18৷৷

atra there (in the forest), vātāḥ wind, timiram darkness, atīva is extreme, nityaśaḥ always, bubhukṣā hunger, mahānti great, bhayāni ca fears also, tataḥ therefore, vanam forest life, duḥkhataram is extremely difficult.

There is extreme wind and darkness, hunger and fear. Therefore forest (life) is difficult.

sarīsṛpāśca bahavō bahurūpāśca bhāmini!.

caranti pṛthivīṅ darpāttatō duḥkhataraṅ vanam৷৷2.28.19৷৷

bhāmini! O Beautiful lady!, bahurūpāḥ ca of various forms too, bahavaḥ many, sarīsṛpāḥ ca reptiles
also, darpāt fiercely, pṛthivīm on the ground, caranti move about, tataḥ therefore, vanam to live in the forest, duḥkhataraṅ is extremely dangerous.

There are various forms of fierce reptiles fearlessly crawling on the ground. So (living in the) forest is extremely dangerous.

nadī nilayanā ssarpā nadīkuṭilagāminaḥ.

tiṣaṭhntyāvṛtya panthānaṅ tatō duḥkhataraṅ vanam৷৷.2.28.20৷৷

nadī nilayanāḥ live in rivers, nadīkuṭilagāminaḥ meandering like rivers, sarpāḥ serpents, panthānam the path, āvṛtya having obstructed, tiṣṭhanti stay, tataḥ therefore, vanam life in the forest, duḥkhataram is full of sufferings.

The serpents that live in and move like meandering rivers always obstruct the paths. Therefore, living in the forest is tremendously difficult.

pataṅgā vṛścikāḥ kīṭā daṅśāśca maśakai ssaha.

bādhantē nityamabalē sarvaṅ duḥkhamatō vanam৷৷2.28.21৷৷

pataṅgā: birds, vṛścikāḥ scorpions, kīṭāḥ insects, maśakaiḥ saha with mosquitoes, daṅśāśca gnats, nityam always, sarvam everyone, bādhantē trouble, ataḥ therefore, vanam the life in forest, duḥkham is a source of suffering.

Birds, scorpions, insects, gnats and mosquitoes always create trouble. Therefore, life in the forest is all suffering.

drumāḥ kaṇṭakinaścaiva kuśā: kāśāśca bhāmini!.

vanē vyākulaśākhāgrāstēna duḥkhataraṅ vanam৷৷2.28.22৷৷

bhāmini O lovely Sita!, vanē in the forest, drumāḥ trees, kuśā kāśāḥ ca kusa grass and reeds, kaṇṭakinaścaiva thorny ones, vyākulaśākhāgrāḥ with tops of branches interlaced with each other, tēna therefore, vanam forest life, duḥkhataram is full of difficulties.

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.

kāyaklēśāśca bahavō bhayāni vividhāni ca.

araṇyavāsē vasatō duḥkhamēva tatō vanam৷৷2.28.23৷৷

araṇyavāsē living in the forest, vasataḥ while living, bahavaḥ many, kāyaklēśāḥ physical afflictions, vividhāni various, bhayāni ca fears, tataḥ therefore, vanam forest, duḥkhamēva is full of difficulties
only.

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

krōdhalōbhau vimōktavyau kartavyā tapasē matiḥ.

na bhētavyaṅ ca bhētavyē nityaṅ duḥkhamatō vanam৷৷2.28.24৷৷

krōdhalōbhau anger and greed, vimōktavyau should be given up, tapasē in asceticism, matiḥ mind, kartavyā must be fixed, bhētavyē even in alarming situations, na bhētavyam one should not be afraid, ataḥ therefore, vanam life in the forest, nityam always, duḥkham full of misery.

Anger and greed have to be given up, with the mind preoccupied with ascetic practices. One should not be afraid of fearful situations. Hence forest (life) always very hard.

tadalaṅ tē vanaṅ gatvā kṣamaṅ na hi vanaṅ tava.

vimṛśanniha paśyāmi bahudōṣataraṅ vanam৷৷2.28.25৷৷

tat for that reason, tē to you, vanam to the forest, gatvā going, alam is not desirable, tava for you, vanam forest life, kṣamam na hi is not fit, iha now, vimṛśan while reconsidering, vanam forest life, bahudōṣataram is full of great dangers, paśyāmi I see.

Thus forest life is not suitable for you. On reconsideration, I see that there are many dangers in forest life.

vanantu nētuṅ na kṛtā matistadā

babhūva rāmēṇa yadā mahātmanā.

na tasya sītā vacanaṅ cakāra ta-

ttatō.bravīdrāmamidaṅ suduḥkhitā৷৷2.28.26৷৷

mahātmanā by the great, rāmēṇa by Rama, yadā when, vanam to the forest, nētum to take, matiḥ mind (decision), kṛtā has been made, na babhūva did not happen, tadā then, sītā Sita, tasya his, tat that, vacanaṅ words, na cakāra did not follow, tataḥ threafter, suduḥkhitā deeply grieved, rāmam to Rama, idam these words, abravīt said.

When the great Rama decided not to take her along with him to the forest, Sita, deeply grieved said these words.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē aṣṭāviṅśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the twentyeighth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.