← 2.25.14 · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 25: Rāma describes the hardships of forest life

Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.25.15

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: he concludes that the forest is unsuitable for her → Sītā remains determined and answers him again.

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

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.