Chapter 44 — Aranya Kanda, Sarga 44

Valmiki Ramayana — Aranya Kanda

Verse 44.12

म्रियमाणस्तु मारीचो जहौ तां कृत्रिमा तनुम्॥ स्मृत्वा तद्वचनं रक्षो दध्यौ केन तु लक्ष्मणम्। इह प्रस्थापयेत् सीता तां शून्ये रावणो हरेत्॥

mriyamāṇastu mārīco jahau tāṃ kṛtrimā tanum|| smṛtvā tadvacanaṃ rakṣo dadhyau kena tu lakṣmaṇam| iha prasthāpayet sītā tāṃ śūnye rāvaṇo haret||

English Meaning

And while on the point of death, Mārīca renounced his counterfeit shape. And remembering the words of Rāvana, the Rākşasa reflected, by what means can Sītā send away Lakşmaņa, and Rāvana carry off Sītā staying in solitude?

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)