Then, as they looked on Sita, the princes were filled with longing for her, and those wicked, degenerate fools grew indignant. Rising from their seats one after another and donning their armour, the wretches began a general chorus of abuse.

Someone said, ‘Carry off Sita by force and capture the two princess and bind them fast! No purpose will be served by merely breaking the bow; for who shall marry the princess while we still live?

Should Janaka give them any assistance, we will rout him in battle as well as the two brothers!’ when the good kings heard these boasts, they said, ‘Shame herself is ashamed to see this company of princes!

Your might and glory and valour and greatness and honour have all vanished with the bow! Is it the same valour of which you are boasting, or have you since acquired it anew from somewhere else? It’s all due to such wickedness ingrained in your soul that God has blackened your faces!

Cease from envy and arrogance and anger, and feast your eyes upon Rama; know that Lakshmana’s wrath is a blazing fire; do not allow yourselves to be consumed by it like moths!

Like a crow who would seek an offering set apart for Garuda (the king of birds) or a hare who would covert the share of a lion; as a man who is angry without a cause and yet expects happiness; as an enemy of Shiva who craves for riches of all kinds;

- as a greedy and covetous man who longs for renown, as a profligate who yearns for a blameless reputation, and as one who is averse to Hari’s feet and yet hankers after the highest destiny (liberation), such is your greed for Sita, O kings!’