Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 20: Kausalyā’s Lamentation
Text 2.20.31
स षट्चाष्टौ च वर्षाणि वत्स्यामि विजने वने।
आसेवमानो वन्यानि फलमूलैश्च वर्तयन्॥
sa ṣaṭ cāṣṭau ca varṣāṇi vatsyāmi vijane vane
āsevamāno vanyāni phala-mūlaiś ca vartayan
saḥ1 ṣaṭ ca = for six [years]; aṣṭau = eight; ca = and then; varṣāṇi = years; vatsyāmi = I will live; vijane = in the secluded; vane = forest; āsevamānaḥ = performing; vanyāni = the activities of a vānaprastha; phala-mūlaiḥ ca = on fruits and roots; vartayan = while subsisting.
I will live in the secluded forest for six [years] and then eight years, performing the activities of a vānaprastha while subsisting on fruits and roots.
1 Technical note: saḥ [aham] vatysyāmi.
Lord Rāma told His mother that He would live in the forest for “six years and then eight years” because the duration of each would then appear smaller to her. If He had told her that He live in the forest for fourteen years, the duration of His stay would appear longer.