अतिभक्तं त्वया सार्धं राज्यं यच्चापि मे वसु। एवमुक्त्वा धनाध्यक्षो जगाम पितुरन्तिकम्॥ अभिवाद्य गुरुं प्राह रावणस्य यदीप्सितम्। एष तात दशग्रीवो दूतं प्रेषितवान्मम॥ दीयतां नगरी लङ्का पूर्वं रक्षोगणोषिता। मयात्र यदनुष्ठेयं तन्ममाचक्ष्व सुव्रत॥
atibhaktaṃ tvayā sārdhaṃ rājyaṃ yaccāpi me vasu| evamuktvā dhanādhyakṣo jagāma piturantikam|| abhivādya guruṃ prāha rāvaṇasya yadīpsitam| eṣa tāta daśagrīvo dūtaṃ preṣitavānmama|| dīyatāṃ nagarī laṅkā pūrvaṃ rakṣogaṇoṣitā| mayātra yadanuṣṭheyaṃ tanmamācakṣva suvrata||
English Meaning
May my kingdom and wealth never undergo division when you are present! 'Having said this, the lord of riches sought the side of his sire, and, paying him reverence, he communicated Ravana's wish to him:' My father, this Tennecked one had sent a messenger to me, saying, Give (back) the city Lankā, which had before been inhabited by hosts of Rakşasa. Now, O you of excellent vows, do you tell me what I should do.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)