इत्येवम् in this way, उक्तः said, वाक्यविशारदः expert in speech, काकुत्स्थ: Rama, प्रहस्य laughing, मदिरेक्षणाम् to her with bewitching eyes, इदं वचनम् these words, वक्तुम् to speak, आरेभे started.

Thus addressed, Rama, skilled in speech, laughed and started speaking to that woman of bewitching eyes. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे सप्तदशस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the seventeenth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.