Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 96: Lakṣmaṇa Notices Bharata’s Army
Text 2.96.1

तां तथा दर्शयित्वा तु मैथिलीं गिरिनिम्नगाम्।
निषसाद गिरिप्रस्थे सीतां मांसेन छन्दयन्॥

tāṁ tathā darśayitvā tu maithilīṁ giri-nimnagām
niṣasāda giri-prasthe sītāṁ māṁsena chandayan

tām = her; tathā darśayitvā tu = having shown; maithilīm = the princess of Mithilā; giri-nimnagām = the river of the mountain; niṣasāda = Rāma sat; giri-prasthe = on a rock of the mountain; sītām = to Sītā; māṁsena = with fruits and other excellent foods fit to be enjoyed by ascetics; chandayan = while captivating 1.

Having shown the river of the mountain to Sītā, the princess of Mithilā, Rāma sat on a rock of the mountain while alluring her with fruits and other excellent foods fit to be enjoyed by ascetics.1

Having described incidental topics [about Sītā-Rāma], the author now resumes his main discussion from this verse. How He allured her is noted in the next verse.

1 Technical note: māṁsena tāpasopabhogya-phalādinā. Also see technical note to text 2.84.17.