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Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.26.12
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: 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
2.26.12
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
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.