चिन्तयित्वा मुहूर्तं तु नारदः प्रत्युवाच तम्। अस्ति राजन्महाद्वीपं क्षीरोदस्य समीपतः॥ तत्र ते चन्द्रसंकाशा मानवाः सुमहाबलाः। महाकाया महावीर्या मेघस्तनितनि:स्वनाः॥ महामात्रा धैर्यवन्तो महापरिघबाहवः। श्वेतद्वीपे मया दृष्टा मानवा राक्षसाधिप।॥ बलवीर्यसमोपेतान्यादृशास्त्वमिहेच्छसि। नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा रावणः प्रत्युवाच ह॥
cintayitvā muhūrtaṃ tu nāradaḥ pratyuvāca tam| asti rājanmahādvīpaṃ kṣīrodasya samīpataḥ|| tatra te candrasaṃkāśā mānavāḥ sumahābalāḥ| mahākāyā mahāvīryā meghastanitani:svanāḥ|| mahāmātrā dhairyavanto mahāparighabāhavaḥ| śvetadvīpe mayā dṛṣṭā mānavā rākṣasādhipa||| balavīryasamopetānyādṛśāstvamihecchasi| nāradasya vacaḥ śrutvā rāvaṇaḥ pratyuvāca ha||
English Meaning
Whereto, thinking for a moment, the celestial saint Nārada replied: "O king, there is an insular continent near the milky ocean. All the inhabitants that live there are gifted with strength-effulgent like the rays of the moon, huge-bodied, highly powerful and have a voice deep as the muttering of the clouds. They are all greatly beautiful, patient and have huge arms. O king of Rākşasas, I have seen in Swetadvipa such powerful men, as you do want to see on this earth.” Hearing the words of Narada, Ravana said.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)