Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 28: Rāma Refuses to Accept Her Request
Text 2.28.17
यथालब्धेन सन्तोषः कर्तव्यस्तेन मैथिलि।
यताहारैर्वनचरैर्नित्यं दुःखमतो वनम्॥
yathā-labdhena santoṣaḥ kartavyas tena maithili
yatāhārair vanacarair nityaṁ duḥkham ato vanam
yathā-labdhena = with whatever fruits and so on are obtained; santoṣaḥ kartavyaḥ tena = should be satisfied; maithili = Maithilī; yata-āhāraiḥ = by restricting their eating; vanacaraiḥ = those who live in the forest; nityam = everyday; duḥkham = is misery; ataḥ = therefore; vanam = a forest.
Those who live in the forest by restricting their eating should be satisfied with whatever fruits and so on can be obtained everyday. Maithilī, therefore, a forest is misery.