स तामसितकेशान्तां भास्करस्य प्रभामिव । वसनाभरणोपेतां मैथिली रावणोऽबवीत्॥ त्रिषु लोकेषु विख्यातं यदि भारमिच्छसि। मामाश्रय वरारोहे तवाहं सदृशं पतिः॥
sa tāmasitakeśāntāṃ bhāskarasya prabhāmiva | vasanābharaṇopetāṃ maithilī rāvaṇo'bavīt|| triṣu lokeṣu vikhyātaṃ yadi bhāramicchasi| māmāśraya varārohe tavāhaṃ sadṛśaṃ patiḥ||
English Meaning
Thereupon Rāvaņa spake to Mathili like to the rays of the sun, having a head of black hair and wearing apparel and ornaments, saying, O you fine damsel, if you did wish to have a husband known all over the world, do you surrender yourself to me.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)