Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 28: Rāma Refuses to Accept Her Request
Text 2.28.15
कार्यस्त्रिरभिषेकश्च काले काले च नित्यशः।
चरता नियमेनैव तस्माद्दुःखतरं वनम्॥
kāryas trir abhiṣekaś ca kāle kāle ca nityaśaḥ
caratā niyamenaiva tasmād duḥkhataraṁ vanam
kāryaḥ = one should; triḥ = three times; abhiṣekaḥ ca = bathe; kāle kāle ca = at specific times; nityaśaḥ = every day; caratā = while acting; niyamena eva = according to scriptural regulations; tasmāt = therefore; duḥkhataram = is greater misery; vanam = a forest.
One should bathe three times every day at specific times while acting according to scriptural regulations. Therefore, a forest is greater misery.
Kāle kāle indicates that one cannot bathe thrice a day in one go; he should bathe early in the morning, at noon and in the evening at dusk. This is not just for a few days—nityaśaḥ—this has to be carried out everyday.