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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 26: Sītā’s foretold forest life

Summary. She recalls predictions heard in her parents’ home and refuses separation despite Rāma’s hesitation

Sequence

  1. Sītā says that love for Rāma changes the hardships he has described into things she can welcome (2.26.1–4)
  2. she recalls brāhmaṇas at her father's house predicting that she would live in a forest (2.26.5–7)
  3. she argues that accompanying him will fulfill that prediction (2.26.8–9)
  4. she also recalls hearing the same prospect from a bhikṣiṇī (female renunciant) in her mother's presence and says she has long wanted this journey (2.26.10–13)
  5. she insists that their marriage binds them together in this life and beyond it (2.26.14–16)
  6. she threatens to end her life if left behind (2.26.17–19)
  7. Rāma still hesitates and tries to comfort her as she weeps. (2.26.20–22)

Verses 2.26.1–22

2.26.1

etat tu vacanaṃ śrutvā sītā rāmasya duḥkhitā
prasaktāśrumukhī mandam idaṃ vacanam abravīt

But hearing this speech of Rāma, Sītā, grieved, her face streaming with unceasing tears, softly spoke these words:

Words: etat tu vacanaṃ — but this speech; śrutvā — having heard; sītā — Sītā; rāmasya — of Rāma; duḥkhitā — grieved; prasaktāśrumukhī — her face streaming with tears; mandam — softly; idaṃ vacanam abravīt — spoke these words

2.26.2

ye tvayā kīrtitā doṣā vane vastavyatāṃ prati
guṇān ity eva tān viddhi tava snehapuraskṛtān

The faults you have named concerning a dwelling in the forest—know them, made so by my love for you, to be virtues instead.

Words: ye tvayā kīrtitā doṣā — the faults named by you; vane vastavyatāṃ prati — concerning dwelling in the forest; guṇān ity eva — as virtues indeed; tān viddhi — know them; tava — for you, of you; snehapuraskṛtān — prompted by love

2.26.3

tvayā ca saha gantavyaṃ mayā gurujanājñayā
tvadviyogena me rāma tyaktavyam iha jīvitam

I must go along with you, by the command of my elders; parted from you, Rāma, I must give up my life here.

Words: tvayā ca saha — and with you; gantavyaṃ — it must be gone; mayā — by me; gurujanājñayā — by the command of my elders; tvadviyogena — by separation from you; me — by me, my; rāma — O Rāma; tyaktavyam — must be given up; iha jīvitam — my life here

2.26.4

na ca māṃ tvatsamīpastham api śaknoti rāghava
surāṇām īśvaraḥ śakraḥ pradharṣayitum ojasā

And when I am at your side, Rāghava, not even Śakra, lord of the gods, could assail me by his might.

Words: na ca māṃ — and not me; tvatsamīpastham api — even standing near you; śaknoti — is able; rāghava — O Rāghava; surāṇām īśvaraḥ — the lord of the gods; śakraḥ — Śakra (Indra); pradharṣayitum — to assail, overpower; ojasā — by his might

2.26.5

patihīnā tu yā nārī na sā śakṣyati jīvitum
kāmam evaṃvidhaṃ rāma tvayā mama vidarśitam

A woman bereft of her husband will not be able to live; assuredly, Rāma, a matter of just this kind you yourself have shown me.

Words: patihīnā tu yā nārī — but the woman who is bereft of a husband; na sā śakṣyati jīvitum — she will not be able to live; kāmam — assuredly, granted; evaṃvidhaṃ — of such a kind; rāma — O Rāma; tvayā — by you; mama — to me; vidarśitam — has been shown

2.26.6

atha cāpi mahāprājña brāhmaṇānāṃ mayā śrutam
purā pitṛgṛhe satyaṃ vastavyaṃ kila me vane

And moreover, O most wise one, in truth I heard from brahmins long ago, in my father's house, that I would surely have to dwell in a forest.

Words: atha cāpi — and moreover; mahāprājña — O most wise one; brāhmaṇānāṃ — from the brahmins; mayā śrutam — was heard by me; purā — formerly; pitṛgṛhe — in my father's house; satyaṃ — truly; vastavyaṃ — it is to be dwelt; kila — reportedly, indeed; me — by me; vane — in the forest

2.26.7

lakṣaṇibhyo dvijātibhyaḥ śrutvāhaṃ vacanaṃ gṛhe
vanavāsakṛtotsāhā nityam eva mahābala

O mighty one, having heard in my home the word of brahmins skilled in reading marks, I have always been eager for a life in the forest.

Words: lakṣaṇibhyo — from those versed in marks; dvijātibhyaḥ — from the twice-born; śrutvāhaṃ — having heard, I; vacanaṃ — the word; gṛhe — in the house; vanavāsakṛtotsāhā — eager for forest-dwelling; nityam eva — always indeed; mahābala — O mighty one

2.26.8

ādeśo vanavāsasya prāptavyaḥ sa mayā kila
sā tvayā saha tatrāhaṃ yāsyāmi priya nānyathā

That predicted forest-dwelling was, it is said, to be fulfilled by me; so I shall go there with you, my love, and not otherwise.

Words: ādeśo — the prediction, decree; vanavāsasya — of forest-dwelling; prāptavyaḥ — to be fulfilled, obtained; sa mayā kila — that by me indeed; sā tvayā saha tatrāhaṃ — so I there with you; yāsyāmi — I shall go; priya — O beloved; nānyathā — not otherwise

2.26.9

kṛtādeśā bhaviṣyāmi gamiṣyāmi saha tvayā
kālaś cāyaṃ samutpannaḥ satyavāg bhavatu dvijaḥ

I shall have fulfilled the prediction; I shall go with you. This time has now come—let the brahmin prove a speaker of truth.

Words: kṛtādeśā — one who has fulfilled the prophecy; bhaviṣyāmi — I shall be; gamiṣyāmi saha tvayā — I shall go with you; kālaś cāyaṃ — and this time; samutpannaḥ — has arisen, come about; satyavāg — a speaker of truth; bhavatu — let him be; dvijaḥ — the brahmin

2.26.10

vanavāse hi jānāmi duḥkhāni bahudhā kila
prāpyante niyataṃ vīra puruṣair akṛtātmabhiḥ

For I know that in forest-dwelling many sorrows are indeed met with, O hero—but surely by men of undisciplined self.

Words: vanavāse hi — for in forest-dwelling; jānāmi — I know; duḥkhāni — sorrows; bahudhā kila — in many ways indeed; prāpyante — are encountered; niyataṃ — surely; vīra — O hero; puruṣair akṛtātmabhiḥ — by men of undisciplined self

2.26.11

kanyayā ca pitur gehe vanavāsaḥ śruto mayā
bhikṣiṇyāḥ sādhuvṛttāyā mama mātur ihāgrataḥ

And as a maiden in my father's house I heard of the forest-dwelling from a mendicant woman of virtuous conduct, in the very presence of my mother.

Words: kanyayā ca — and as a maiden; pitur gehe — in my father's house; vanavāsaḥ śruto mayā — forest-dwelling was heard by me; bhikṣiṇyāḥ — from a female mendicant; sādhuvṛttāyā — of virtuous conduct; mama mātur ihāgrataḥ — here before my mother

2.26.12

prasāditaś ca vai pūrvaṃ tvaṃ vai bahuvidhaṃ prabho
gamanaṃ vanavāsasya kāṅkṣitaṃ hi saha tvayā

And you were entreated by me before in many ways, my lord; for a journey to a forest-dwelling with you is what I have longed for.

Words: prasāditaś ca vai — and indeed entreated; pūrvaṃ — before; tvaṃ vai — you indeed; bahuvidhaṃ — in many ways; prabho — O lord; gamanaṃ — the going, journey; vanavāsasya — to forest-dwelling; kāṅkṣitaṃ hi — is indeed longed for; saha tvayā — with you

2.26.13

kṛtakṣaṇāhaṃ bhadraṃ te gamanaṃ prati rāghava
vanavāsasya śūrasya caryā hi mama rocate

I have long awaited the moment for the journey, Rāghava—blessings on you; for the forest-life of a brave man pleases me.

Words: kṛtakṣaṇāhaṃ — I who have awaited the moment; bhadraṃ te — blessings on you; gamanaṃ prati — for the journey; rāghava — O Rāghava; vanavāsasya — of forest-dwelling; śūrasya — of a brave man; caryā hi — the way of life indeed; mama rocate — pleases me

2.26.14

śuddhātman premabhāvād dhi bhaviṣyāmi vikalmaṣā
bhartāram anugacchantī bhartā hi mama daivatam

O pure-souled one, out of the feeling of love I shall become free of all taint, following my husband; for my husband is my deity.

Words: śuddhātman — O pure-souled one; premabhāvād dhi — for out of love; bhaviṣyāmi vikalmaṣā — I shall become free of taint; bhartāram anugacchantī — following my husband; bhartā hi mama daivatam — for my husband is my deity

2.26.15

pretyabhāve 'pi kalyāṇaḥ saṃgamo me saha tvayā
śrutir hi śrūyate puṇyā brāhmaṇānāṃ yaśasvinām

Even in the life after death, blessed will be my union with you; for a holy tradition is handed down from illustrious brahmins.

Words: pretyabhāve 'pi — even in the state after death; kalyāṇaḥ — blessed; saṃgamo me — my union; saha tvayā — with you; śrutir hi śrūyate — for a scriptural tradition is heard; puṇyā — holy; brāhmaṇānāṃ yaśasvinām — of illustrious brahmins

2.26.16

iha loke ca pitṛbhir yā strī yasya mahāmate
adbhir dattā svadharmeṇa pretyabhāve 'pi tasya sā

O most wise one, the woman who in this world is given by her parents to a man, with a libation of water, according to sacred law, is his even in the world beyond.

Words: iha loke ca — and in this world; pitṛbhir — by her parents; yā strī — which woman; yasya — to whom; mahāmate — O most wise one; adbhir dattā — given with water; svadharmeṇa — by sacred law; pretyabhāve 'pi — even in the world beyond; tasya sā — she is his

2.26.17

evam asmāt svakāṃ nārīṃ suvṛttāṃ hi pativratām
nābhirocayase netuṃ tvaṃ māṃ keneha hetunā

So then, for what reason are you unwilling to take me—your own woman, of good conduct and devoted to her husband?

Words: evam asmāt — therefore, from this; svakāṃ nārīṃ — your own woman; suvṛttāṃ hi — of good conduct indeed; pativratām — devoted to her husband; nābhirocayase — you are unwilling; netuṃ — to take; tvaṃ māṃ — you me; keneha hetunā — for what reason here

2.26.18

bhaktāṃ pativratāṃ dīnāṃ māṃ samāṃ sukhaduḥkhayoḥ
netum arhasi kākutstha samānasukhaduḥkhinīm

You ought to take me, Kākutstha—devoted, faithful to my husband, forlorn, alike in joys and sorrows, sharing your happiness and grief in equal measure.

Words: bhaktāṃ — devoted; pativratāṃ — faithful to my husband; dīnāṃ — forlorn, wretched; māṃ — me; samāṃ sukhaduḥkhayoḥ — alike in joy and sorrow; netum arhasi — you ought to take; kākutstha — O Kākutstha; samānasukhaduḥkhinīm — sharing the same joys and sorrows

2.26.19

yadi māṃ duḥkhitām evaṃ vanaṃ netuṃ na cecchasi
viṣam agniṃ jalaṃ vāham āsthāsye mṛtyukāraṇāt

If you will not take me, grieved as I am, to the forest, then I shall resort to poison, fire, or water, to bring about my death.

Words: yadi māṃ duḥkhitām evaṃ — if me, thus grieved; vanaṃ netuṃ na cecchasi — you do not wish to take to the forest; viṣam — poison; agniṃ — fire; jalaṃ vāham — or water, I; āsthāsye — I shall resort to; mṛtyukāraṇāt — to bring about my death

2.26.20

evaṃ bahuvidhaṃ taṃ sā yācate gamanaṃ prati
nānumene mahābāhus tāṃ netuṃ vijanaṃ vanam

Thus in many ways she implored him about the journey; yet the mighty-armed one did not consent to take her to the lonely forest.

Words: evaṃ bahuvidhaṃ — thus in many ways; taṃ sā yācate — she implored him; gamanaṃ prati — concerning the journey; nānumene — did not consent; mahābāhus — the mighty-armed one; tāṃ netuṃ — to take her; vijanaṃ vanam — to the lonely forest

2.26.21

evam uktā tu sā cintāṃ maithilī samupāgatā
snāpayantīva gām uṣṇair aśrubhir nayanacyutaiḥ

Thus addressed, Maithilī fell into anxious brooding, as though bathing the earth with hot tears falling from her eyes.

Words: evam uktā tu sā — but thus addressed, she; cintāṃ — into anxious thought; maithilī — Maithilī; samupāgatā — fell into, came to; snāpayantīva — as if bathing; gām — the earth; uṣṇair aśrubhir — with hot tears; nayanacyutaiḥ — fallen from the eyes

2.26.22

cintayantīṃ tathā tāṃ tu nivartayitum ātmavān
krodhāviṣṭāṃ tu vaidehīṃ kākutstho bahv asāntvayat

As she brooded thus, the self-possessed Kākutstha, to dissuade the princess of Videha, who was overcome with vehemence, comforted her much.

Words: cintayantīṃ tathā tāṃ tu — her brooding thus; nivartayitum — to dissuade, turn back; ātmavān — the self-possessed one; krodhāviṣṭāṃ tu — overcome with vehemence; vaidehīṃ — the princess of Videha; kākutstho — Kākutstha; bahv asāntvayat — comforted much

← 2.25 Rāma describes the hardships of forest life · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.27 Rāma agrees that Sītā will accompany him →

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.

Plain text: /text/2/26.md · JSON: /data/2/26.json