Hosts of wild elephants, lions, demons and other evil creature haunt the woods. Can a precious life-giving herb flourish, my son, in a poison-wood?

God has created for the forest Kola and Kirata girls, who know naught of bodily delights; of nature as hard as that of the insects that live among the stones, they experience no hardship in the forest.

An ascetic’s wife again is fit for the woods, who for the sake of penance has renounced all carnal pleasures. But how, my son, will Sita live in the forest, who is frightened at the sight of a monkey in a picture?

Can the cygnet that has sported in the lovely lotus-beds of the holy lake find fit abode in a muddy puddle? Ponder this, and then, whatever you bid, so I will instruct Janaki.

‘If she remain at home,’ the mother continued, ‘she will be the support of my life.’ When Raghubira heard this endearing speech of his mother, steeped, as it were, in the nectar of grace and affection,

-he comforted her by addressing wise the loving words to her; and then he started admonishing Janaki by disclosing to her the pains and pleasure of the forest.

Even though he hesitated to speak before his mother, he realized well within himself the requirements of the time and said, ‘Listen to my advice, O princes, nor form any different fancies in your mind.