अथात्मपरिधानार्थं सीता कौशेयवासिनी। सम्प्रेक्ष्य चीरं संत्रस्ता पृषती वागुरामिव ॥ सा व्यपत्रपमाणेव प्रगृह्य च सुदुर्मनाः। कैकेय्याः कुशचीरे ते जानकी शुभलक्षणा॥ अश्रुसम्पूर्णनेत्रा च धर्मज्ञा धर्मदर्शिनी। गन्धर्वराजप्रतिमं भर्तारमिदमब्रवीत्॥ कथं नु चीरं बध्नन्ति मुनयो वनवासिनः। इति ह्यकुशला सीता सा मुमोह मुहुर्मुहुः॥
athātmaparidhānārthaṃ sītā kauśeyavāsinī| samprekṣya cīraṃ saṃtrastā pṛṣatī vāgurāmiva || sā vyapatrapamāṇeva pragṛhya ca sudurmanāḥ| kaikeyyāḥ kuśacīre te jānakī śubhalakṣaṇā|| aśrusampūrṇanetrā ca dharmajñā dharmadarśinī| gandharvarājapratimaṃ bhartāramidamabravīt|| kathaṃ nu cīraṃ badhnanti munayo vanavāsinaḥ| iti hyakuśalā sītā sā mumoha muhurmuhuḥ||
English Meaning
Then Sītā clad in silk apparel, eyeing the ascetic covering meant for her, became agitated, like a doe at sight of a noose. And afflicted with shame, that one graced with auspicious marks, Jänakī, sorrowfully took from Kaikeyī the Kuća and bark; and with tears flooding her eyes, that one cognizant of virtue and having her gaze ever fixed upon it, thus addressed her lord resembling the king of the Gandharvas, “How do the ascetics dwelling in the woods put on their dress? Saying this, Sītā, ill at ease became embarrassed.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)