Chapter 55 — Aranya Kanda, Sarga 55

Valmiki Ramayana — Aranya Kanda

Verse 55.29

इमाः शून्या वाचः शुष्यमाणेन भाषिताः॥ न चापि रावणः कांचिन्मूर्खा स्त्री प्रणमेत ह। एवमुक्त्वा दशग्रीवो मैथिली जनकात्मजाम्। कृतान्तवशमापन्नो ममेयमिति मन्यते॥

imāḥ śūnyā vācaḥ śuṣyamāṇena bhāṣitāḥ|| na cāpi rāvaṇaḥ kāṃcinmūrkhā strī praṇameta ha| evamuktvā daśagrīvo maithilī janakātmajām| kṛtāntavaśamāpanno mameyamiti manyate||

English Meaning

Let not these words of mine spoken by me under the withering influence of love prove fruitless. Rāvana has never bowed his head to any female. Having said this, the Ten-headed one, come under the subjection of the Destroyer, looked upon Maithili, Janaka's daughter (as his own) saying, She is mine.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)