Chapter 18 — Aranya Kanda, Sarga 18

Valmiki Ramayana — Aranya Kanda

Verse 18.8

कथं दासस्य मेदासी भार्या भवितुमिच्छसि। सोऽहमार्येण परवान् भ्रात्रा कमलवर्णिनी॥

kathaṃ dāsasya medāsī bhāryā bhavitumicchasi| so'hamāryeṇa paravān bhrātrā kamalavarṇinī||

English Meaning

Why wish you to be the servant of me who am a servant myself*? O lotus-hued one, I am dependant on my noble brother. The text is difficult to render literally:—Why wish you to be the female servant of me who am myself a male servant.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)