# Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 25 — Rāma describes the hardships of forest life

*Rāma describes the forest’s hunger, exposure, dangerous animals and tapasvin hardships, Sītā remains determined to accompany him*

Portion: Sītā insists on joining Rāma · Verses: 15 · Ref format: 2.25.<verse>

## Sequence

- Rāma asks Sītā to reconsider for her own welfare (25.1–3)
- he describes the frightening sounds of lions and mountain streams (25.4–6)
- he explains that they will sleep on leaves on the ground, wear bark and matted hair, observe fasts, and face hunger, darkness, and harsh winds (25.7–9)
- snakes may block the paths and waterways (25.10–11)
- insects will bite them, and thorns and tangled grass will obstruct their way (25.12–13)
- he concludes that the forest is unsuitable for her → Sītā remains determined and answers him again (25.14–15).

## Verses

**2.25.1**  
sa evaṃ bruvatīṃ sītāṃ dharmajño dharmavatsalaḥ  
nivartanārthe dharmātmā vākyam etad uvāca ha  
To Sītā, speaking thus, that righteous soul, the knower and lover of dharma, in order to turn her back, spoke these words:

**2.25.2**  
sīte mahākulīnāsi dharme ca niratā sadā  
ihācara svadharmaṃ tvaṃ mā yathā manasaḥ sukham  
Sītā, you are of noble family and ever devoted to dharma; practice here your own duty, as brings happiness to the mind.

**2.25.3**  
sīte yathā tvāṃ vakṣyāmi tathā kāryaṃ tvayābale  
vane doṣā hi bahavo vadatas tān nibodha me  
Sītā, as I shall tell you, so must you act, weak one; for there are many hardships in the forest—learn them from me as I speak.

**2.25.4**  
sīte vimucyatām eṣā vanavāsakṛtā matiḥ  
bahudoṣaṃ hi kāntāraṃ vanam ity abhidhīyate  
Sītā, let this resolve to dwell in the forest be given up; for the forest is spoken of as a wilderness full of dangers.

**2.25.5**  
hitabuddhyā khalu vaco mayaitad abhidhīyate  
sadā sukhaṃ na jānāmi duḥkham eva sadā vanam  
It is indeed with a mind for your welfare that this word is spoken by me: I have never known the forest to be a pleasure, but always a sorrow.

**2.25.6**  
girinirjharasaṃbhūtā girikandaravāsinām  
siṃhānāṃ ninadā duḥkhāḥ śrotuṃ duḥkham ato vanam  
The roars of the lions dwelling in mountain caves, rising up by the mountain torrents, are painful to hear; hence the forest is sorrow.

**2.25.7**  
supyate parṇaśayyāsu svayaṃ bhagnāsu bhūtale  
rātriṣu śramakhinnena tasmād duḥkhataraṃ vanam  
One must sleep at night, worn out with toil, on beds of leaves broken off by oneself, upon the bare ground; therefore the forest is more painful still.

**2.25.8**  
upavāsaś ca kartavyā yathāprāṇena maithili  
jaṭābhāraś ca kartavyo valkalāmbaradhāriṇā  
And fasting must be undertaken according to one's strength, Maithilī; and a burden of matted locks must be borne by one who wears garments of bark.

**2.25.9**  
atīva vātas timiraṃ bubhukṣā cātra nityaśaḥ  
bhayāni ca mahānty atra tato duḥkhataraṃ vanam  
Excessive wind, darkness, and constant hunger are here, and great terrors here too; hence the forest is more painful still.

**2.25.10**  
sarīsṛpāś ca bahavo bahurūpāś ca bhāmini  
caranti pṛthivīṃ darpād ato dukhataraṃ vanam  
And many serpents of many shapes, O lovely one, roam the earth in their insolence; hence the forest is more painful still.

**2.25.11**  
nadīnilayanāḥ sarpā nadīkuṭilagāminaḥ  
tiṣṭhanty āvṛtya panthānam ato duḥkhataraṃ vanam  
Serpents that make their homes in rivers, gliding in windings like a river, lie blocking the path; hence the forest is more painful still.

**2.25.12**  
pataṃgā vṛścikāḥ kīṭā daṃśāś ca maśakaiḥ saha  
bādhante nityam abale sarvaṃ duḥkham ato vanam  
Locusts, scorpions, insects, and gadflies together with mosquitoes constantly torment one, weak lady; all is sorrow, hence the forest.

**2.25.13**  
drumāḥ kaṇṭakinaś caiva kuśakāśāś ca bhāmini  
vane vyākulaśākhāgrās tena duḥkhataraṃ vanam  
Thorny trees, and kuśa and kāśa grasses, O lovely one, with branch-tips all entangled in the forest—by that the forest is more painful still.

**2.25.14**  
tad alaṃ te vanaṃ gatvā kṣamaṃ na hi vanaṃ tava  
vimṛśann iha paśyāmi bahudoṣataraṃ vanam  
So enough of your going to the forest; the forest is not fit for you. Reflecting here, I see the forest as fraught with even greater dangers.

**2.25.15**  
vanaṃ tu netuṃ na kṛtā matis tadā babhūva rāmeṇa yadā mahātmanā  
babhūva rāmeṇa yadā mahātmanā  
na tasya sītā vacanaṃ cakāra tat tato 'bravīd rāmam idaṃ suduḥkhitā  
tato 'bravīd rāmam idaṃ suduḥkhitā  
But when the great-souled Rāma had formed no resolve to take her to the forest, Sītā did not act on that word of his; then, deeply grieved, she said this to Rāma.