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Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.25.12

Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 25: Rāma describes the hardships of forest life. Rāma describes the forest’s hunger, exposure, dangerous animals and tapasvin hardships, Sītā remains determined to accompany him

In the sequence: insects will bite them, and thorns and tangled grass will obstruct their way

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

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki. 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.