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Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.26.8

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 argues that accompanying him will fulfill that prediction

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

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.