Summary
In this chapter Rama describes various troubles of staying in forest and beseeches Seetha not to go to forest.
Chapter [Sarga] 28 in Detail
saevam bruvatiim siitaam dharmajno dharma vatsalah |
nivartana arthe dharma aatmaa vaakyam etat uvaaca ha || 2-28-1
Thinking of difficulties one will be called upon to bear in the forest, Rama who was fond of righteousness did not form the idea of taking Sita who was speaking as aforesaid.
saantvayitvaa punastaam tu baashhpaduushhitalochanaam |
nivartanaarthe dharmaatmaa vaakyametaduvaacha ha || 2-28-2
Smoothening with kind words to Sita, when eyes were blemished with tears, the virtuous Rama spoke again as follows, for the purpose of waking her turn back.
siite mahaa kuliinaa asi dharme ca nirataa sadaa |
iha aacara svadharmam tvam maa yathaa manasah sukham || 2-28-3
"Sita! Your are born in a high lineage, ever devoted to righteousness. Perform your own virtue here, which is agreeable to my mind."
siite yathaa tvaam vaksyaami tathaa kaaryam tvayaa abale |
vane dosaa hi bahavo vadatah taan nibodha me || 2-28-4
"Oh Sita, the delicate! Do whatever I tell you. There are many inconvenience in the forest. Know them from me."
siite vimucyataam esaa vana vaasa kritaa matih |
bahu dosam hi kaantaaram vanam iti abhidhiiyate || 2-28-5
"Oh, Sita! Let your thought made about forest be given up. It is indeed said that forest with its wilderness is fraught with many dangers."
hita buddhyaa khalu vaco mayaa etat abhidhiiyate |
sadaa sukham na jaanaami duhkham eva sadaa vanam || 2-28-6
This advice is given by me, keeping your welfare in view. I do not ever consider a forest as comfortable. It is always uncomfortable."
giri nirjhara sambhuutaa giri kandara vaasinaam |
simhaanaam ninadaa duhkhaah shrotum duhkham atah vanam || 2-28-7
"The sounds created from waterfalls in hills and from lions residing in mountain caves are unpleasant to hear. That is why living in a forest in uncomfortable."
kriidamaanaashcha visrabdhaa mattaah shuunye mahaamrigaah |
drishhtvaa samabhivartante siite duhkhamato vanam || 2-28-8
"Large wild animals which are fearless and intoxicated sporting in the desolate forest; come forward, after seeing. Oh, Sita! That is why living in forest is uncomfortable."
sagraahaah saritashchaiva pakavatyashcha dustaraah |
mattairapi gajairnityamato duhkhataram vanam || 2-28-9
"Even streams filled with crocodiles full of mire are difficult to be crossed by rut elephants also. Hence dwelling in a forest is always very much uncomfortable.
lataakantakasampuurnaah krikavaakuupanaaditaah |
nirapaashcha sudurgaashcha maargaa duhkhamato vanam || 2-28-10
"Pathways covered with creepers and thorns, echoed with noise of wild cocks, are water-less and very difficult to enter. Hence dwelling in a forest is hardship."
supyate parna shayyaasu svayam bhagnaasu bhuu tale |
raatrisu shrama khinnena tasmaat duhkhataram vanam || 2-28-11
"One distress by fatigue has to sleep in nights on a bed of fallen leaves. Hence, living in a forest is very much a misery."
ahoraatram cha santoshhah kartavyo niyataatmanaa |
phalairvrikshaavapatitaih siite duhkhamato vanam || 2-28-12
"Oh, Sita! With mind disciplined day and night, one has to necessarily satisfy themselves with fruits fallen from trees. Hence, living in a forest is a suffering."
upavaasah ca kartavyaa yathaa praanena maithili |
jataa bhaarah ca kartavyo valkala ambara dhaarinaa || 2-28-13
"Oh, Sita the princess of Mithila! Fasting is to be done according to one's stamina. Clothes of bark are to be worn and mass of matted hair has to be worn on the head."
devataanaam pitriinaam chakartavyam vidhipuurvakam |
praaptaanaamatithiinaam cha nityashah pratipuujanam || 2-28-14
"The celestials, the ancestors, the guests who arrive are to be worshipped always according to the prescribed rites."
kaaryastriirabhishhekashcha kaale kaale cha nityashah |
charataa niyamenaiva tasmaadduhkhataram vanam || 2-28-15
"Bath is to be performed three times a day at appropriate time by the one moving in the forest, with one's mind kept in restraint. Hence, living in a forest is very much a misery."
upahaarashcha kartavyah kusumaih svayamaahritaih |
aarshhena vidhinaa vedyaam baale duhkhamato vanam || 2-28-16
"Oh, Sita the innocent! Offering is to be done with flowers brought by one's own self at the altar, according to the rites prescribed by sages. Hence, living in a forest is a hardship."
yathaalabdhena kartavyah santoshhstena maithili |
yataahaarairvanacharaih siite duhkhamato vanam || 2-28-17
"Oh, Sita the princess of Mithila! The dwellers of forest are to be satisfied with whatever is obtained there, the restricted food. Hence, living in forest is a misery.
atiiva vaatah timiram bubhuksaa ca atra nityashah |
bhayaani ca mahaanti atra tatah duhkhataram vanam || 2-28-18
"In the forest, air and darkness are too much. There are always hunger and great fears too. Hence, dwelling in a forest is very much a misery."
sarii sripaah ca bahavo bahu ruupaah ca bhaamini |
caranti prithiviim darpaat atah dukhataram vanam || 2-28-19
"Oh, Sita! Various creeping animals of different forms roam about on earth with pride. Hence dwelling in a forest is a great misery."
nadii nilayanaah sarpaa nadii kutila gaaminah |
tisthanti aavritya panthaanam atah duhkhataram vanam || 2-28-20
"Snakes dwelling in rivers, moving crookedly like rivers, stay obstructing the pathways. Hence, living in forest is a great misery."
patamgaa vrishcikaah kiitaa damshaah ca mashakaih saha |
baadhante nityam abale sarvam duhkham atah vanam || 2-28-21
"Oh, frail princess! Flying insects, scorpions, insects including mosquitoes and files always annoy every one. Hence, forest is full of hardship."
drumaah kantakinah caiva kusha kaashaah ca bhaamini |
vane vyaakula shaakhaa agraah tena duhkhataram vanam || 2-28-22
"Oh, Sita! Forest is full of trees, Kusa grass and bamboos with ends of their branches spread on all sides. Hence, living in a forest is a great misery."
kaayakleshaashcha bahavo bhayaani vividhaani cha |
aranyavaase vasato kdhuhkhameva tato vanam || 2-28-23
"An inhabitant living in a forest has to face various bodily troubles and panics. Hence, forest- life is really a misery."
krodhalobhe vimoktavyau kartavyaa tapase matih |
na bhetavyam cha bhetavye nityam duhkhamato vanam || 2-28-24
"Anger and greed are to be abandoned by the dwellers of forest. Devotion is to be bestowed on asceticism. What needs to be feared, should not be feared. Hence, living in a forest is a suffering."
tat alam te vanam gatvaa ksamam na hi vanam tava |
vimrishann iha pashyaami bahu dosataram vanam || 2-28-25
"Therefore, do away with the idea of your coming to the forest. Forest is not indeed bearable for you. Reflecting now, I perceive forest as having too many disadvantages."
vanam tu netum na kritaa matis tadaa |
babhuuva raamena yadaa mahaatmanaa |
na tasya siitaa vacanam cakaara tat |
tatah abraviid raamam idam suduhkhitaa || 2-28-26
As the great souled Rama did not agree to take her to the forest, the much aggrieved Sita spoke to Rama as follows:-
|| iti ayodhya kaande raamayane shhtaavimshah sargah ||
Thus completes twenty eighth chapter of Ayodhya Kaanda of Srimad Ramayana.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate