Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 28: Rāma Refuses to Accept Her Request
Text 2.28.23
कायक्लेशाश्च बहवो भयानि विविधानि च।
अरण्यवासे वसतो दुःखमेव ततो वनम्॥
kāya-kleśāś ca bahavo bhayāni vividhāni ca
araṇya-vāse vasato duḥkham eva tato vanam
kāya-kleśāḥ ca = bodily difficulties; bahavaḥ = there are several; bhayāni = dangers; vividhāni = various; ca = and; araṇya-vāse = in the forest; vasataḥ = for one who lives; duḥkham = misery; eva = is simply; tataḥ = so; vanam = a forest.
There are several bodily difficulties and various dangers for one who lives in the forest. So, a forest is simply misery.
“Bodily difficulties” refers to vows, fasting and so on.