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Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.25.8

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 explains that they will sleep on leaves on the ground, wear bark and matted hair, observe fasts, and face hunger, darkness, and harsh winds

2.25.8

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

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.