← 2.26 Sītā’s foretold forest life · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.28 Lakṣmaṇa joins the exile →

Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 27: Rāma agrees that Sītā will accompany him

Summary. Sītā rejects separation despite every hardship, Rāma agrees to take her and asks her to distribute their possessions

Sequence

  1. Sītā challenges Rāma's courage and asks why he fears taking a wife who is devoted to him (2.27.1–4)
  2. she compares her commitment to Sāvitrī's devotion to Satyavān and objects to being left in other people's care (2.27.5–8)
  3. she says the journey will not exhaust her: thorns will feel soft, dust like sandal paste, and food gathered by his hands like nectar (2.27.9–14)
  4. she promises not to complain or make herself a burden, saying that life with him is heaven and life without him is hell (2.27.15–17)
  5. unable to imagine enduring fourteen years apart, she again threatens death, embraces him, and breaks down (2.27.18–24)
  6. Rāma embraces her and explains that his reluctance came from concern for her, not inability to protect her → now that he understands her determination, he agrees that she will accompany him (2.27.25–28)
  7. he asks her to distribute jewels, food, and gifts before they leave → delighted, Sītā immediately begins. (2.27.29–33)

Verses 2.27.1–33

2.27.1

sāntvyamānā tu rāmeṇa maithilī janakātmajā
vanavāsanimittāya bhartāram idam abravīt

But Sītā, princess of Mithilā, daughter of Janaka, though consoled by Rāma, said this to her husband concerning his dwelling in the forest:

Words: sāntvyamānā — being consoled; tu — but; rāmeṇa — by Rāma; maithilī — the princess of Mithilā; janakātmajā — daughter of Janaka; vanavāsanimittāya — concerning the forest-dwelling; bhartāram — to (her) husband; idam — this; abravīt — said

2.27.2

sā tam uttamasaṃvignā sītā vipulavakṣasaṃ
praṇayāc cābhimānāc ca paricikṣepa rāghavam

Deeply agitated, Sītā, out of love and out of injured pride, reproached that broad-chested Rāghava:

Words: sā — she; tam — him; uttamasaṃvignā — extremely agitated; sītā — Sītā; vipulavakṣasaṃ — broad-chested; praṇayāc — out of love; cābhimānāc — and out of (injured) pride; ca — and; paricikṣepa — reproached, chided; rāghavam — Rāghava

2.27.3

kiṃ tvāmanyata vaidehaḥ pitā me mithilādhipaḥ
rāma jāmātaraṃ prāpya striyaṃ puruṣavigraham

What, O Rāma, did my father Vaideha, the lord of Mithilā, take you for, when he got as a son-in-law a woman in the guise of a man?

Words: kiṃ — what, for what; tvāmanyata — did he take you to be; vaidehaḥ — the king of Videha; pitā — father; me — my; mithilādhipaḥ — lord of Mithilā; rāma — O Rāma; jāmātaraṃ — as son-in-law; prāpya — having obtained; striyaṃ — a woman; puruṣavigraham — in the form of a man

2.27.4

anṛtaṃ balaloko 'yam ajñānād yad dhi vakṣyati
tejo nāsti paraṃ rāme tapatīva divākare

This ignorant world would be speaking a falsehood, out of ignorance, if it said there is no splendor surpassing that in Rāma—Rāma who blazes as the sun blazes.

Words: anṛtaṃ — untruth, falsely; balaloko — this ignorant world; 'yam — this; ajñānād — out of ignorance; yad — that, in that; dhi — indeed; vakṣyati — will say; tejo — splendor, valor; nāsti — there is not; paraṃ — surpassing, higher; rāme — in Rāma; tapatīva — blazes as it were; divākare — in the sun

2.27.5

kiṃ hi kṛtvā viṣaṇṇas tvaṃ kuto vā bhayam asti te
yat parityaktukāmas tvaṃ mām ananyaparāyaṇām

What have you done to be so dejected, or from what quarter comes your fear, that you wish to abandon me, who am devoted to none but you?

Words: kiṃ — what; hi — indeed; kṛtvā — having done; viṣaṇṇas — despondent, dejected; tvaṃ — you; kuto — from where; vā — or; bhayam — fear; asti — is; te — to you; yat — that; parityaktukāmas — wishing to abandon; tvaṃ — you; mām — me; ananyaparāyaṇām — devoted to none but (you)

2.27.6

dyumatsenasutaṃ vīra satyavantam anuvratām
sāvitrīm iva māṃ viddhi tvam ātmavaśavartinīm

Know me, O hero, to be like Sāvitrī, devoted to Satyavān the son of Dyumatsena—wholly obedient and true to you.

Words: dyumatsenasutaṃ — the son of Dyumatsena; vīra — O hero; satyavantam — Satyavān; anuvratām — devoted (to him); sāvitrīm — Sāvitrī; iva — like; māṃ — me; viddhi — know; tvam — you; ātmavaśavartinīm — wholly under your will, obedient

2.27.7

na tv ahaṃ manasāpy anyaṃ draṣṭāsmi tvadṛte 'nagha
tvayā rāghava gaccheyaṃ yathānyā kulapāṃsanī

Never, O sinless one, shall I look upon another man even in thought, save you; I shall go with you, Rāghava—not like some woman who brings shame upon her family.

Words: na — not; tv — but; ahaṃ — I; manasāpy — even in mind; anyaṃ — another (man); draṣṭāsmi — shall look upon; tvadṛte — except you; 'nagha — O sinless one; tvayā — with you; rāghava — O Rāghava; gaccheyaṃ — I shall go; yathānyā — (not) as another woman; kulapāṃsanī — a disgrace to her family

2.27.8

svayaṃ tu bhāryāṃ kaumārīṃ ciram adhyuṣitāṃ satīm
śailūṣa iva māṃ rāma parebhyo dātum icchasi

Yet you yourself, O Rāma, wish to hand me over to others—me, your faithful wife wedded in maidenhood and long dwelling with you—like a player hiring out his own.

Words: svayaṃ — yourself; tu — but, yet; bhāryāṃ — wife; kaumārīṃ — wedded in maidenhood; ciram — for long; adhyuṣitāṃ — having dwelt with (you); satīm — virtuous, faithful; śailūṣa — a player, strolling actor; iva — like; māṃ — me; rāma — O Rāma; parebhyo — to others; dātum — to give over; icchasi — you wish

2.27.9

sa mām anādāya vanaṃ na tvaṃ prasthātum arhasi
tapo vā yadi vāraṇyaṃ svargo vā syāt saha tvayā

You ought not to set out for the forest without taking me; whether it be penance, or the wild woodland, or heaven—let it be shared with you.

Words: sa — he, such (you); mām — me; anādāya — without taking; vanaṃ — to the forest; na — not; tvaṃ — you; prasthātum — to set out; arhasi — ought; tapo — penance, austerity; vā — whether; yadi — if; vāraṇyaṃ — or the forest; svargo — heaven; vā — or; syāt — be it; saha — with; tvayā — you

2.27.10

na ca me bhavitā tatra kaś cit pathi pariśramaḥ
pṛṣṭhatas tava gacchantyā vihāraśayaneṣv api

Nor shall there be for me any weariness on the road as I walk behind you—it will be no more tiring than pleasure-walks and couches.

Words: na — not; ca — and; me — for me; bhavitā — there will be; tatra — there; kaś cit — any; pathi — on the road; pariśramaḥ — fatigue, weariness; pṛṣṭhatas — behind; tava — you; gacchantyā — (for me) walking; vihāraśayaneṣv — in strolling and reposing; api — even

2.27.11

kuśakāśaśareṣīkā ye ca kaṇṭakino drumāḥ
tūlājinasamasparśā mārge mama saha tvayā

The kuśa, kāśa, and śara reeds, the iṣīkā grass, and the thorny bushes on the path—all these, with you beside me, will feel to me as soft to the touch as cotton or a deerskin.

Words: kuśakāśaśareṣīkā — kuśa, kāśa and śara reeds and iṣīkā grass; ye — which; ca — and; kaṇṭakino — thorny; drumāḥ — trees, bushes; tūlājinasamasparśā — feeling like cotton and deerskin to the touch; mārge — on the path; mama — for me; saha — with; tvayā — you

2.27.12

mahāvāta samuddhūtaṃ yan mām avakariṣyati
rajo ramaṇa tan manye parārdhyam iva candanam

The dust that a great wind whirls up and scatters over me, that too, my beloved, I shall regard as the most precious sandal-paste.

Words: mahāvāta — by a great wind; samuddhūtaṃ — raised up, stirred up; yan — which; mām — me; avakariṣyati — will cover, sprinkle over; rajo — dust; ramaṇa — O beloved; tan — that; manye — I regard; parārdhyam — most precious; iva — like; candanam — sandal-paste

2.27.13

śādvaleṣu yad āsiṣye vanānte vanagoracā
kuthāstaraṇatalpeṣu kiṃ syāt sukhataraṃ tataḥ

When, dwelling in the forest, I lie upon the grassy lawns at the woodland's edge, what could be more delightful than that, more than couches spread with woolen rugs?

Words: śādvaleṣu — on grassy lawns; yad — when; āsiṣye — I shall lie down; vanānte — at the forest's edge; vanagoracā — roaming, dwelling in the forest; kuthāstaraṇatalpeṣu — than on couches spread with woolen coverlets; kiṃ — what; syāt — would be; sukhataraṃ — more pleasant; tataḥ — than that

2.27.14

patraṃ mūlaṃ phalaṃ yat tvam alpaṃ vā yadi vā bahu
dāsyasi svayam āhṛtya tan me 'mṛtarasopamam

Whatever leaf, root, or fruit—be it little or much—you gather with your own hand and give me, that will be to me like the taste of nectar.

Words: patraṃ — leaf; mūlaṃ — root; phalaṃ — fruit; yat — which; tvam — you; alpaṃ — little; vā — or; yadi — if; vā — or; bahu — much; dāsyasi — you will give; svayam — yourself, with your own hand; āhṛtya — having gathered, brought; tan — that; me — to me; 'mṛtarasopamam — like the taste of nectar

2.27.15

na mātur na pitus tatra smariṣyāmi na veśmanaḥ
ārtavāny upabhuñjānā puṣpāṇi ca phalāni ca

There, enjoying the flowers and fruits of every season, I shall not think of my mother, nor my father, nor my home.

Words: na — not; mātur — of (my) mother; na — not; pitus — of (my) father; tatra — there; smariṣyāmi — I shall remember, think of; na — not; veśmanaḥ — of (my) home; ārtavāny — seasonal; upabhuñjānā — enjoying, partaking of; puṣpāṇi — flowers; ca — and; phalāni — fruits; ca — and

2.27.16

na ca tatra gataḥ kiṃ cid draṣṭum arhasi vipriyam
matkṛte na ca te śoko na bhaviṣyāmi durbharā

Once there, you shall see nothing displeasing on my account; nor shall there be any grief to you because of me, and I shall be no heavy burden.

Words: na — not; ca — and; tatra — there; gataḥ — gone (having gone); kiṃ cid — anything; draṣṭum — to see; arhasi — you shall; vipriyam — displeasing; matkṛte — on my account; na — not; ca — and; te — to you; śoko — grief; na — not; bhaviṣyāmi — I shall be; durbharā — a burden hard to bear

2.27.17

yas tvayā saha sa svargo nirayo yas tvayā vinā
iti jānan parāṃ prītiṃ gaccha rāma mayā saha

Life with you is heaven, life without you is hell; knowing this to be my supreme joy, O Rāma, go with me.

Words: yas — that which; tvayā — with you; saha — together; sa — that; svargo — heaven; nirayo — hell; yas — that which; tvayā — you; vinā — without; iti — thus; jānan — knowing; parāṃ — supreme; prītiṃ — joy, delight; gaccha — go; rāma — O Rāma; mayā — me; saha — with

2.27.18

atha mām evam avyagrāṃ vanaṃ naiva nayiṣyasi
viṣam adyaiva pāsyāmi mā viśaṃ dviṣatāṃ vaśam

But if you will not lead me, resolved as I am, to the forest, then this very day I shall drink poison—lest I fall into the power of those who hate me.

Words: atha — but if; mām — me; evam — thus; avyagrāṃ — unwavering, resolute; vanaṃ — to the forest; naiva — not at all; nayiṣyasi — you will lead; viṣam — poison; adyaiva — this very day; pāsyāmi — I shall drink; mā — not, lest; viśaṃ — (let me not) fall into; dviṣatāṃ — of enemies, of those who hate; vaśam — into the power

2.27.19

paścād api hi duḥkhena mama naivāsti jīvitam
ujjhitāyās tvayā nātha tadaiva maraṇaṃ varam

Even afterward there would be no life for me in such sorrow; if I am forsaken by you, O lord, better then at once is death.

Words: paścād — afterward, later; api — even; hi — indeed; duḥkhena — in sorrow; mama — for me; naivāsti — there is not at all; jīvitam — life; ujjhitāyās — for (me) abandoned; tvayā — by you; nātha — O lord; tadaiva — then indeed; maraṇaṃ — death; varam — better

2.27.20

idaṃ hi sahituṃ śokaṃ muhūrtam api notsahe
kiṃ punar daśavarṣāṇi trīṇi caikaṃ ca duḥkhitā

This grief I cannot bear even for a moment—how much less, in misery, for fourteen years!

Words: idaṃ — this; hi — indeed; sahituṃ — to endure; śokaṃ — grief; muhūrtam — a moment; api — even; notsahe — I cannot bear; kiṃ punar — how much less; daśavarṣāṇi — ten years; trīṇi — three; caikaṃ — and one; ca — and; duḥkhitā — grieving, in misery

2.27.21

iti sā śokasaṃtaptā vilapya karuṇaṃ bahu
cukrośa patim āyastā bhṛśam āliṅgya sasvaram

Thus, tormented by grief, having lamented long and piteously, distraught she embraced her husband tightly and wailed aloud.

Words: iti — thus; sā — she; śokasaṃtaptā — tormented by grief; vilapya — having lamented; karuṇaṃ — piteously; bahu — much, long; cukrośa — cried out, wailed; patim — (to her) husband; āyastā — overwrought, distressed; bhṛśam — intensely, tightly; āliṅgya — having embraced; sasvaram — aloud, with a loud voice

2.27.22

sā viddhā bahubhir vākyair digdhair iva gajāṅganā
cira saṃniyataṃ bāṣpaṃ mumocāgnim ivāraṇiḥ

Pierced by his many words as by poisoned shafts, that lady, like a cow-elephant, let flow the tears she had long held back, as the fire-drill lets forth fire.

Words: sā — she; viddhā — pierced; bahubhir — by many; vākyair — words; digdhair — poisoned, smeared (darts); iva — as if; gajāṅganā — a she-elephant; cira — long; saṃniyataṃ — held back, restrained; bāṣpaṃ — tears; mumocāgnim — released ... fire; ivāraṇiḥ — as the fire-drill (does)

2.27.23

tasyāḥ sphaṭikasaṃkāśaṃ vāri saṃtāpasaṃbhavam
netrābhyāṃ parisusrāva paṅkajābhyām ivodakam

The crystal-clear water born of her anguish streamed from her eyes, as water drips from a pair of lotuses.

Words: tasyāḥ — her; sphaṭikasaṃkāśaṃ — crystal-like; vāri — water (tears); saṃtāpasaṃbhavam — born of anguish; netrābhyāṃ — from the two eyes; parisusrāva — flowed forth; paṅkajābhyām — from two lotuses; ivodakam — like water

2.27.24

tāṃ pariṣvajya bāhubhyāṃ visaṃjñām iva duḥkhitām
uvāca vacanaṃ rāmaḥ pariviśvāsayaṃs tadā

Embracing with his arms that grieving woman, who seemed to swoon, Rāma then spoke these words to reassure her:

Words: tāṃ — her; pariṣvajya — having embraced; bāhubhyāṃ — with (his) arms; visaṃjñām — senseless, swooning; iva — as if; duḥkhitām — grieving; uvāca — spoke; vacanaṃ — words; rāmaḥ — Rāma; pariviśvāsayaṃs — reassuring, comforting; tadā — then

2.27.25

na devi tava duḥkhena svargam apy abhirocaye
na hi me 'sti bhayaṃ kiṃ cit svayambhor iva sarvataḥ

I would not desire even heaven at the price of your grief, O lady; for I have no fear from any quarter, like the Self-existent (Brahmā).

Words: na — not; devi — O lady, queen; tava — your; duḥkhena — at the cost of grief; svargam — heaven; apy — even; abhirocaye — I desire, favor; na — not; hi — for; me — to me; 'sti — is; bhayaṃ — fear; kiṃ cit — any; svayambhor — of the Self-existent (Brahmā); iva — like; sarvataḥ — on all sides, from anywhere

2.27.26

tava sarvam abhiprāyam avijñāya śubhānane
vāsaṃ na rocaye 'raṇye śaktimān api rakṣaṇe

Not knowing your whole mind, O fair-faced one, I did not favor your dwelling in the forest, though I am able to protect you.

Words: tava — your; sarvam — whole, entire; abhiprāyam — intention, mind; avijñāya — not knowing; śubhānane — O fair-faced one; vāsaṃ — dwelling; na — not; rocaye — I favored, desired; 'raṇye — in the forest; śaktimān — capable; api — though; rakṣaṇe — in protecting

2.27.27

yat sṛṣṭāsi mayā sārdhaṃ vanavāsāya maithili
na vihātuṃ mayā śakyā kīrtir ātmavatā yathā

Since you were destined, O Maithilī, to dwell in the forest along with me, I can no more forsake you than a self-possessed man his good name.

Words: yat — since; sṛṣṭāsi — you were created, destined; mayā — with me; sārdhaṃ — together; vanavāsāya — for forest-dwelling; maithili — O princess of Mithilā; na — not; vihātuṃ — to abandon; mayā — by me; śakyā — able (to be); kīrtir — fame, good name; ātmavatā — by a self-possessed man; yathā — as

2.27.28

dharmas tu gajanāsoru sadbhir ācaritaḥ purā
taṃ cāham anuvarte 'dya yathā sūryaṃ suvarcalā

This dharma, O you with thighs like an elephant's trunk, was practiced by the good of old; and I today follow it, as Suvarcalā follows the Sun.

Words: dharmas — dharma; tu — indeed; gajanāsoru — O you with thighs (round) like an elephant's trunk; sadbhir — by the good; ācaritaḥ — practiced, followed; purā — of old; taṃ — that (dharma); cāham — and I; anuvarte — follow; 'dya — today; yathā — as; sūryaṃ — the Sun; suvarcalā — Suvarcalā (the Sun's wife)

2.27.29

eṣa dharmas tu suśroṇi pitur mātuś ca vaśyatā
ataś cājñāṃ vyatikramya nāhaṃ jīvitum utsahe

This too is dharma, O fair-hipped one—obedience to father and mother; and so, having transgressed their command, I could not bear to live.

Words: eṣa — this; dharmas — dharma; tu — indeed; suśroṇi — O fair-hipped one; pitur — of (one's) father; mātuś — of mother; ca — and; vaśyatā — obedience, submission; ataś — therefore; cājñāṃ — and the command; vyatikramya — having transgressed; nāhaṃ — I not; jīvitum — to live; utsahe — I am able, dare

2.27.30

sa māṃ pitā yathā śāsti satyadharmapathe sthitaḥ
tathā vartitum icchāmi sa hi dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ
anugacchasva māṃ bhīru sahadharmacarī bhava

As my father, standing on the path of truth and dharma, commands me, so I wish to act; for that is the eternal law. Follow me, O timid one, and be my companion in dharma.

Words: sa — he; māṃ — me; pitā — father; yathā — as; śāsti — instructs, commands; satyadharmapathe — on the path of truth and dharma; sthitaḥ — standing, established; tathā — so; vartitum — to act, conduct oneself; icchāmi — I wish; sa — that; hi — indeed; dharmaḥ — dharma, law; sanātanaḥ — eternal; anugacchasva — follow; māṃ — me; bhīru — O timid one; sahadharmacarī — a companion in dharma; bhava — be

2.27.31

brāhmaṇebhyaś ca ratnāni bhikṣukebhyaś ca bhojanam
dehi cāśaṃsamānebhyaḥ saṃtvarasva ca māciram

Give jewels to the brahmins and food to the mendicants and to all who look for it; make haste, and delay not.

Words: brāhmaṇebhyaś — to the brahmins; ca — and; ratnāni — jewels; bhikṣukebhyaś — to the mendicants; ca — and; bhojanam — food; dehi — give; cāśaṃsamānebhyaḥ — and to those who hope, ask; saṃtvarasva — make haste; ca — and; māciram — without delay

2.27.32

anukūlaṃ tu sā bhartur jñātvā gamanam ātmanaḥ
kṣipraṃ pramuditā devī dātum evopacakrame

Learning that her husband now favored her own going, the lady, greatly delighted, quickly set about the giving of gifts.

Words: anukūlaṃ — favorable; tu — but; sā — she; bhartur — of (her) husband; jñātvā — having learned; gamanam — the going, departure; ātmanaḥ — her own; kṣipraṃ — quickly; pramuditā — greatly delighted; devī — the lady, queen; dātum — to give; evopacakrame — indeed set about

2.27.33

tataḥ prahṛṣṭā paripūrṇamānasā yaśasvinī bhartur avekṣya bhāṣitam
dhanāni ratnāni ca dātum aṅganā pracakrame dharmabhṛtāṃ manasvinī

Then, overjoyed and content at heart, the illustrious lady, heeding her husband's words—that high-minded woman among the upholders of dharma—began to give away wealth and jewels.

Words: tataḥ — then; prahṛṣṭā — overjoyed; paripūrṇamānasā — with heart fully content; yaśasvinī — the illustrious lady; bhartur — of (her) husband; avekṣya — having regarded, heeded; bhāṣitam — the speech, words; dhanāni — wealth; ratnāni — jewels; ca — and; dātum — to give; aṅganā — the lady; pracakrame — began; dharmabhṛtāṃ — among the upholders of dharma; manasvinī — the high-minded one

← 2.26 Sītā’s foretold forest life · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.28 Lakṣmaṇa joins the exile →

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/2/27.md · JSON: /data/2/27.json