Chapter 9 — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 9

Valmiki Ramayana — Sundara Kanda

Verse 9.37

अत्यर्थं सक्तमनसो रावणे ता वरस्त्रियः। अस्वतन्त्राः सपत्नीनां प्रियमेवाचरंस्तदा॥

atyarthaṃ saktamanaso rāvaṇe tā varastriyaḥ| asvatantrāḥ sapatnīnāṃ priyamevācaraṃstadā||

English Meaning

From their hearts being firmly fixed on Ravana, those excellent women, having their sense of separateness removed, (albeit thus dealt with), did what was dear to them.* *The sense is very imperspicusous only by reason of he unskilful use of the pronouns. The damsels kissed did not resent the act; but kissed the kissers in turn.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)