Canto 3 -
Araṇya-kāṇḍa
Chapter 49: Rāvaṇa Kidnaps Sītā
Text 3.49.35
ह्रियमाणां प्रियां भर्तुः प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसीम्।
विवशापहृता सीता रावणेनेति शंसत॥
hriyamāṇāṁ priyāṁ bhartuḥ prāṇebhyo ’pi garīyasīm
vivaśāpahṛtā sītā rāvaṇeneti śaṁsata
hriyamāṇām = is being abducted; priyām = [understand that] the beloved wife; bhartuḥ = of my husband husband; prāṇebhyaḥ api = [to Him] than His very life; garīyasīm = who is more valuable; vivaśā = helpless; apahṛtā = has been abducted; sītā = Sītā; rāvaṇena iti = by Rāvaṇa; śaṁsata = tell [Him].
[Understand that] the beloved wife of my husband, who is more valuable [to Him] than His very life, is being abducted!1 Tell [Him], “Helpless Sītā has been abducted by Rāvaṇa!”
1 Technical note: bhartuḥ prāṇebhyo ’pi garīyasīṁ priyāṁ bhāryāṁ māṁ jānīteti śeṣaḥ
She implies that they should not fear Rāvaṇa; they should truthfully inform [her husband about her abduction].
What is the use of telling Him [about her abduction]? She states that in the next verse.