Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 28: Rāma Refuses to Accept Her Request
Text 2.28.22
द्रुमाः कण्टकिनश्चैव कुशकाशाश्च भामिनि।
वने व्याकुलशाखाग्रास्तेन दुःखतरं वनम्॥
drumāḥ kaṇṭakinaś caiva kuśa-kāśāś ca bhāmini
vane vyākula-śākhāgrās tena duḥkhataraṁ vanam
drumāḥ = trees; kaṇṭakinaḥ ca eva = thorny; kuśa-kāśāḥ ca = are kuśa and kāśa; bhāmini = beautiful lady; vane = in the forest; vyākula-śākhā-agrāḥ = with the tips of their many leaves spread out extensively; tena = therefore; duḥkhataram = is a greater misery; vanam = a forest.
Beautiful lady, in the forest are thorny kuśa and kāśa trees with the tips of their many leaves spread out extensively. Therefore, a forest is a greater misery.