Chapter 27 — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 27

Valmiki Ramayana — Sundara Kanda

Verse 27.5

आत्मानं खादतानार्या न सीतां भक्षयिष्यथ। जनकस्य सुतामिष्टां स्नुषां दशरथस्य च॥

ātmānaṃ khādatānāryā na sītāṃ bhakṣayiṣyatha| janakasya sutāmiṣṭāṃ snuṣāṃ daśarathasya ca||

English Meaning

O vile demons, do youeat your own persons (The proper expression, I think, should be-“Eat me.” The commentator Rāmānuja explains Atmanam as your own bodies.) but do not devour Sītā, the daughter of Janaka and the esteemed daughter-in-law of the king Dasaratha.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)