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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 25: Rāma describes the hardships of forest life

Summary. Rāma describes the forest’s hunger, exposure, dangerous animals and tapasvin hardships, Sītā remains determined to accompany him

Sequence

  1. Rāma asks Sītā to reconsider for her own welfare (2.25.1–3)
  2. he describes the frightening sounds of lions and mountain streams (2.25.4–6)
  3. he explains that they will sleep on leaves on the ground, wear bark and matted hair, observe fasts, and face hunger, darkness, and harsh winds (2.25.7–9)
  4. snakes may block the paths and waterways (2.25.10–11)
  5. insects will bite them, and thorns and tangled grass will obstruct their way (2.25.12–13)
  6. he concludes that the forest is unsuitable for her → Sītā remains determined and answers him again. (2.25.14–15)

Verses 2.25.1–15

2.25.1

sa evaṃ bruvatīṃ sītāṃ dharmajño dharmavatsalaḥ
nivartanārthe dharmātmā vākyam etad uvāca ha

To Sītā, speaking thus, that righteous soul, the knower and lover of dharma, in order to turn her back, spoke these words:

Words: sa — he; evaṃ bruvatīṃ — speaking thus; sītāṃ — to Sītā; dharmajño — the knower of dharma; dharmavatsalaḥ — the lover of dharma; nivartanārthe — in order to turn her back; dharmātmā — the righteous soul; vākyam etad — this word; uvāca ha — spoke indeed

2.25.2

sīte mahākulīnāsi dharme ca niratā sadā
ihācara svadharmaṃ tvaṃ mā yathā manasaḥ sukham

Sītā, you are of noble family and ever devoted to dharma; practice here your own duty, as brings happiness to the mind.

Words: sīte — O Sītā; mahākulīnāsi — you are of noble family; dharme ca niratā — and devoted to dharma; sadā — always; ihācara — practice here; svadharmaṃ — your own dharma; tvaṃ — you; mā — (enclitic; here = me, for me); yathā — as; manasaḥ sukham — happiness of mind

2.25.3

sīte yathā tvāṃ vakṣyāmi tathā kāryaṃ tvayābale
vane doṣā hi bahavo vadatas tān nibodha me

Sītā, as I shall tell you, so must you act, weak one; for there are many hardships in the forest—learn them from me as I speak.

Words: sīte — O Sītā; yathā tvāṃ vakṣyāmi — as I shall tell you; tathā kāryaṃ — so is it to be done; tvayābale — by you, weak one; vane — in the forest; doṣā hi bahavo — for many are the faults; vadatas tān — those, as I tell them; nibodha me — learn from me

2.25.4

sīte vimucyatām eṣā vanavāsakṛtā matiḥ
bahudoṣaṃ hi kāntāraṃ vanam ity abhidhīyate

Sītā, let this resolve to dwell in the forest be given up; for the forest is spoken of as a wilderness full of dangers.

Words: sīte — O Sītā; vimucyatām — let it be given up; eṣā — this; vanavāsakṛtā — made for forest-dwelling; matiḥ — resolve, intention; bahudoṣaṃ hi — for full of dangers; kāntāraṃ — wilderness; vanam — the forest; ity abhidhīyate — is so called

2.25.5

hitabuddhyā khalu vaco mayaitad abhidhīyate
sadā sukhaṃ na jānāmi duḥkham eva sadā vanam

It is indeed with a mind for your welfare that this word is spoken by me: I have never known the forest to be a pleasure, but always a sorrow.

Words: hitabuddhyā — with a mind for welfare; khalu — indeed; vaco — word; mayaitad — this by me; abhidhīyate — is spoken; sadā sukhaṃ na jānāmi — I never know it to be a pleasure; duḥkham eva — only a sorrow; sadā — always; vanam — the forest

2.25.6

girinirjharasaṃbhūtā girikandaravāsinām
siṃhānāṃ ninadā duḥkhāḥ śrotuṃ duḥkham ato vanam

The roars of the lions dwelling in mountain caves, rising up by the mountain torrents, are painful to hear; hence the forest is sorrow.

Words: girinirjharasaṃbhūtā — rising up by the mountain torrents; girikandaravāsinām — of those dwelling in mountain caves; siṃhānāṃ — of the lions; ninadā — the roars; duḥkhāḥ — painful; śrotuṃ — to hear; duḥkham ato vanam — hence the forest is sorrow

2.25.7

supyate parṇaśayyāsu svayaṃ bhagnāsu bhūtale
rātriṣu śramakhinnena tasmād duḥkhataraṃ vanam

One must sleep at night, worn out with toil, on beds of leaves broken off by oneself, upon the bare ground; therefore the forest is more painful still.

Words: supyate — one sleeps; parṇaśayyāsu — on beds of leaves; svayaṃ bhagnāsu — broken off by oneself; bhūtale — on the ground; rātriṣu — at nights; śramakhinnena — by one worn out with toil; tasmād duḥkhataraṃ vanam — therefore the forest is more painful

2.25.8

upavāsaś ca kartavyā yathāprāṇena maithili
jaṭābhāraś ca kartavyo valkalāmbaradhāriṇā

And fasting must be undertaken according to one's strength, Maithilī; and a burden of matted locks must be borne by one who wears garments of bark.

Words: upavāsaś ca kartavyā — and fasting must be done; yathāprāṇena — according to one's strength; maithili — O Maithilī; jaṭābhāraś ca — and the burden of matted hair; kartavyo — must be borne; valkalāmbaradhāriṇā — by one wearing bark garments

2.25.9

atīva vātas timiraṃ bubhukṣā cātra nityaśaḥ
bhayāni ca mahānty atra tato duḥkhataraṃ vanam

Excessive wind, darkness, and constant hunger are here, and great terrors here too; hence the forest is more painful still.

Words: atīva — excessive; vātas — wind; timiraṃ — darkness; bubhukṣā cātra — and hunger here; nityaśaḥ — constantly; bhayāni ca — and fears; mahānty atra — great here; tato duḥkhataraṃ vanam — hence the forest is more painful

2.25.10

sarīsṛpāś ca bahavo bahurūpāś ca bhāmini
caranti pṛthivīṃ darpād ato dukhataraṃ vanam

And many serpents of many shapes, O lovely one, roam the earth in their insolence; hence the forest is more painful still.

Words: sarīsṛpāś ca bahavo — and many creeping things; bahurūpāś ca — and of many shapes; bhāmini — O radiant one; caranti — they roam; pṛthivīṃ — the earth; darpād — out of insolence; ato dukhataraṃ vanam — hence the forest is more painful

2.25.11

nadīnilayanāḥ sarpā nadīkuṭilagāminaḥ
tiṣṭhanty āvṛtya panthānam ato duḥkhataraṃ vanam

Serpents that make their homes in rivers, gliding in windings like a river, lie blocking the path; hence the forest is more painful still.

Words: nadīnilayanāḥ — having their abode in rivers; sarpā — serpents; nadīkuṭilagāminaḥ — gliding in windings like a river; tiṣṭhanty āvṛtya — they lie having covered; panthānam — the path; ato duḥkhataraṃ vanam — hence the forest is more painful

2.25.12

pataṃgā vṛścikāḥ kīṭā daṃśāś ca maśakaiḥ saha
bādhante nityam abale sarvaṃ duḥkham ato vanam

Locusts, scorpions, insects, and gadflies together with mosquitoes constantly torment one, weak lady; all is sorrow, hence the forest.

Words: pataṃgā — locusts, moths; vṛścikāḥ — scorpions; kīṭā — insects; daṃśāś ca — and gadflies; maśakaiḥ saha — together with mosquitoes; bādhante — they torment; nityam — constantly; abale — O weak one; sarvaṃ duḥkham — all is sorrow; ato vanam — hence the forest

2.25.13

drumāḥ kaṇṭakinaś caiva kuśakāśāś ca bhāmini
vane vyākulaśākhāgrās tena duḥkhataraṃ vanam

Thorny trees, and kuśa and kāśa grasses, O lovely one, with branch-tips all entangled in the forest—by that the forest is more painful still.

Words: drumāḥ — trees; kaṇṭakinaś caiva — and thorny; kuśakāśāś ca — and kuśa and kāśa grasses; bhāmini — O radiant one; vane — in the forest; vyākulaśākhāgrās — with tangled branch-tips; tena duḥkhataraṃ vanam — by that the forest is more painful

2.25.14

tad alaṃ te vanaṃ gatvā kṣamaṃ na hi vanaṃ tava
vimṛśann iha paśyāmi bahudoṣataraṃ vanam

So enough of your going to the forest; the forest is not fit for you. Reflecting here, I see the forest as fraught with even greater dangers.

Words: tad alaṃ — so enough; te — for you; vanaṃ gatvā — with going to the forest; kṣamaṃ na hi — for it is not fitting; vanaṃ tava — the forest for you; vimṛśann iha — reflecting here; paśyāmi — I see; bahudoṣataraṃ — fraught with even greater dangers; vanam — the forest

2.25.15

vanaṃ tu netuṃ na kṛtā matis tadā babhūva rāmeṇa yadā mahātmanā
babhūva rāmeṇa yadā mahātmanā
na tasya sītā vacanaṃ cakāra tat tato 'bravīd rāmam idaṃ suduḥkhitā
tato 'bravīd rāmam idaṃ suduḥkhitā

But when the great-souled Rāma had formed no resolve to take her to the forest, Sītā did not act on that word of his; then, deeply grieved, she said this to Rāma.

Words: vanaṃ tu netuṃ — but to take her to the forest; na kṛtā matis — no resolve was made; tadā — then; babhūva — was, became; rāmeṇa — by Rāma; yadā — when; mahātmanā — great-souled; na tasya sītā vacanaṃ cakāra tat — Sītā did not act on that word of his; tato 'bravīd — then she said; rāmam idaṃ — this to Rāma; suduḥkhitā — deeply grieved

← 2.24 Sītā claims a share in the exile · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.26 Sītā’s foretold forest life →

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.

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