Chapter 12 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12

Valmiki Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda

Verse 12.20

तस्य धर्मात्मनो देवि वने वासं यशस्विनः। कथं रोचयसे भीरु नव वर्षाणि पञ्च च ॥

tasya dharmātmano devi vane vāsaṃ yaśasvinaḥ| kathaṃ rocayase bhīru nava varṣāṇi pañca ca ||

English Meaning

Wherefore then, O bashful one, do you like that the illustrious and righteous Rāma, O exalted dame, should reside in the forest for five and nine years?

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)