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Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.26.20

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: Rāma still hesitates and tries to comfort her as she weeps.

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

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.