Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 26: Sītā’s foretold forest life · 2.26.2 →

Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.26.1

Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 26: Sītā’s foretold forest life. She recalls predictions heard in her parents’ home and refuses separation despite Rāma’s hesitation

In the sequence: Sītā says that love for Rāma changes the hardships he has described into things she can welcome

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

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.