← 3.34.21 · Araṇya Kāṇḍa 34: Rāvaṇa’s abduction plan
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 3.34.22
Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 34: Rāvaṇa’s abduction plan. Mārīca must become a golden deer to lure the brothers away, leaving Sītā unguarded and Rāma vulnerable to grief
In the sequence: hearing Rāma's name and this proposal terrifies Mārīca, who prepares to give unwelcome but protective advice.
3.34.22
sa rāvaṇaṃ trastaviṣaṇṇacetā mahāvane rāmaparākramajñaḥ
kṛtāñjalis tattvam uvāca vākyaṃ hitaṃ ca tasmai hitam ātmanaś ca
He, his mind stricken with fear and dejection, knowing Rāma's prowess in the great forest, with palms joined spoke to Rāvaṇa true words—words salutary both to Rāvaṇa and to himself.
Words: sa — he; rāvaṇaṃ — to Rāvaṇa; trastaviṣaṇṇacetā — his mind stricken with fear and dejection; mahāvane — in the great forest; rāmaparākramajñaḥ — knowing Rāma's prowess; kṛtāñjalis — with palms joined; tattvam — the truth, truly; uvāca — spoke; vākyaṃ — words; hitaṃ ca — and salutary, beneficial; tasmai — to him (Rāvaṇa); hitam — salutary, beneficial; ātmanaś ca — and to himself
Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.