# Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 24 — Sītā claims a share in the exile *She insists that a wife shares her husband’s fate and chooses forest hardship with Rāma over comfort without him* Portion: Sītā insists on joining Rāma · Verses: 19 · Ref format: 2.24. ## Sequence - Sītā objects that a wife shares her husband's fortune, so the exile applies to her too (24.1–4) - she offers to walk ahead and clear thorns from his path, saying that life beside him is better than palace comforts (24.5–7) - she reminds him that her parents have already taught her her responsibilities and says she can live happily in the forest while caring for him (24.8–10) - she promises to eat roots and fruit without becoming a burden, and looks forward to seeing rivers, mountains, and woods under his protection (24.11–13) - she says even heaven would not please her without him (24.14–16) - she declares that she is prepared to die rather than be separated from him → Rāma remains reluctant and begins explaining the dangers of forest life (24.17–19). ## Verses **2.24.1** evam uktā tu vaidehī priyārhā priyavādinī praṇayād eva saṃkruddhā bhartāram idam abravīt Thus addressed, the princess of Videha, worthy of love and sweet of speech, angered out of very love, said this to her husband: **2.24.2** āryaputra pitā mātā bhrātā putras tathā snuṣā svāni puṇyāni bhuñjānāḥ svaṃ svaṃ bhāgyam upāsate Noble husband, father, mother, brother, son, and daughter-in-law—each enjoying their own merits—partake of their own several portion of fortune. **2.24.3** bhartur bhāgyaṃ tu bhāryaikā prāpnoti puruṣarṣabha ataś caivāham ādiṣṭā vane vastavyam ity api But the wife alone obtains the fortune of her husband, O bull among men; and therefore I too am enjoined that I must dwell in the forest. **2.24.4** na pitā nātmajo nātmā na mātā na sakhījanaḥ iha pretya ca nārīṇāṃ patir eko gatiḥ sadā Not father, not son, not oneself, not mother, not friends—for women, here and in the hereafter, the husband alone is ever the refuge. **2.24.5** yadi tvaṃ prasthito durgaṃ vanam adyaiva rāghava agratas te gamiṣyāmi mṛdnantī kuśakaṇṭakān If you set out this very day for the impassable forest, Rāghava, I shall go before you, crushing the kuśa-grass and thorns. **2.24.6** īrṣyā roṣau bahiṣkṛtya bhuktaśeṣam ivodakam naya māṃ vīra viśrabdhaḥ pāpaṃ mayi na vidyate Casting out jealousy and anger like water left over after drinking, lead me, O hero, with confidence; there is no fault in me. **2.24.7** prāsādāgrair vimānair vā vaihāyasagatena vā sarvāvasthāgatā bhartuḥ pādacchāyā viśiṣyate Better than palace-terraces, aerial cars, or flight through the sky, is the shade of a husband's feet, which attends one in every condition. **2.24.8** anuśiṣṭāsmi mātrā ca pitrā ca vividhāśrayam nāsmi saṃprati vaktavyā vartitavyaṃ yathā mayā I have been instructed by my mother and my father in various matters; I need not now be told how I ought to conduct myself. **2.24.9** sukhaṃ vane nivatsyāmi yathaiva bhavane pituḥ acintayantī trīṃl lokāṃś cintayantī pativratam I shall dwell happily in the forest, just as in my father's house, giving no thought to the three worlds, thinking only of devotion to my husband. **2.24.10** śuśrūṣamāṇā te nityaṃ niyatā brahmacāriṇī saha raṃsye tvayā vīra vaneṣu madhugandhiṣu Ever serving you, restrained and living chastely, I shall take delight with you, O hero, in the forests fragrant with honey. **2.24.11** tvaṃ hi kartuṃ vane śakto rāma saṃparipālanam anyasya pai janasyeha kiṃ punar mama mānada For you, Rāma, are able in the forest to protect even another person here—how much more me, O bestower of honor? **2.24.12** phalamūlāśanā nityaṃ bhaviṣyāmi na saṃśayaḥ na te duḥkhaṃ kariṣyāmi nivasantī saha tvayā I shall always live on fruits and roots—no doubt of it; I shall cause you no trouble while dwelling with you. **2.24.13** icchāmi saritaḥ śailān palvalāni vanāni ca draṣṭuṃ sarvatra nirbhītā tvayā nāthena dhīmatā I wish to see the rivers, the mountains, the pools, and the forests, fearless everywhere with you, my wise protector. **2.24.14** haṃsakāraṇḍavākīrṇāḥ padminīḥ sādhupuṣpitāḥ iccheyaṃ sukhinī draṣṭuṃ tvayā vīreṇa saṃgatā Happy and in company with you, my hero, I would wish to see the lotus-ponds strewn with swans and kāraṇḍava-ducks, in fair bloom. **2.24.15** saha tvayā viśālākṣa raṃsye paramanandinī evaṃ varṣasahasrāṇāṃ śataṃ vāhaṃ tvayā saha With you, O large-eyed one, I shall delight, supremely joyful; thus would I live with you even a hundred thousand years. **2.24.16** svarge 'pi ca vinā vāso bhavitā yadi rāghava tvayā mama naravyāghra nāhaṃ tam api rocaye And even if a dwelling in heaven itself should fall to me without you, Rāghava, O tiger among men, I would not care even for that. **2.24.17** ahaṃ gamiṣyāmi vanaṃ sudurgamaṃ mṛgāyutaṃ vānaravāraṇair yutam mṛgāyutaṃ vānaravāraṇair yutam vane nivatsyāmi yathā pitur gṛhe tavaiva pādāv upagṛhya saṃmatā tavaiva pādāv upagṛhya saṃmatā I shall go to the forest so hard to traverse, full of deer and thronged with monkeys and elephants; I shall dwell in the forest as in my father's house, clasping your very feet, devoted to you alone. **2.24.18** ananyabhāvām anuraktacetasaṃ tvayā viyuktāṃ maraṇāya niścitām tvayā viyuktāṃ maraṇāya niścitām nayasva māṃ sādhu kuruṣva yācanāṃ na te mayāto gurutā bhaviṣyati na te mayāto gurutā bhaviṣyati Lead me, whose heart is fixed on none but you and full of love, resolved on death if parted from you; graciously grant my entreaty—through me no burden will ever be yours. **2.24.19** tathā bruvāṇām api dharmavatsalo na ca sma sītāṃ nṛvaro ninīṣati na ca sma sītāṃ nṛvaro ninīṣati uvāca caināṃ bahu saṃnivartane vane nivāsasya ca duḥkhitāṃ prati vane nivāsasya ca duḥkhitāṃ prati Though she spoke thus, that best of men, devoted to dharma, did not wish to take Sītā along; and he said much to her, grieved as she was, urging her to turn back and about the hardships of dwelling in the forest.