Ramayana Condensed in the Poet's Own Words /310

292
 
THE RAMAYANA
 
humbly, approached Sita and saluted her

with folded hands placed on his head and

asked her in a sweet voice:
 

 
का त्वं भवसि कल्याणि त्वमनिन्दितलोचने ॥
 

" O auspicious Lady, who are you, of

lovely eyes ?
 

 
महिषी भूमिपालस्य राजकन्याऽसि मे मता ॥
 

It is my belief that you are a princess

and the queen of a king.
 

 
रावणेन जनस्थानाद्वबलादपहृता यदि ।

सीता त्वमसि भद्रं ते तन्ममाचक्ष्व पृच्छतः ॥
 

If you are the person who was carried

away forcibly from
away
Janasthana by

Ravana, you are indeed Sita. Good
Ravana, you are indeed Sita
betide you.
betide Tell me who ask you. Tell me who ask you.
 

 
यथा हि तव वै दैन्यं रूपं चाप्यतिमानुषम् ।

तपसा चान्वितो वेषस्त्वं राममहिषी ध्रुवम् ॥
 

From your wretched condition, super-

human beauty and ascetic garb, you are

surely the queen of Rama."
 

 
सा तस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा रामकीर्तनहर्षिता ।

उवाच वाक्यं वैदेही हनुमन्तं द्रुमाश्रितम् ॥