Chapter 88 — Uttara Kanda, Sarga 88

Valmiki Ramayana — Uttara Kanda

Verse 88.2

कथं स राजा स्त्रीभूतो वर्तयामास दुर्गतिः। पुरुषः स यदा भूतः कां वृत्तिं वर्तयत्यसौ॥

kathaṃ sa rājā strībhūto vartayāmāsa durgatiḥ| puruṣaḥ sa yadā bhūtaḥ kāṃ vṛttiṃ vartayatyasau||

English Meaning

How could the king Ila subject himself to those afflictions in the shape of a female? And how did he use to behave himself in his male form?

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)