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Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 38: Rāvaṇa compels Mārīca

Summary. He rejects unwelcome advice, offers half his Kingdom for help and threatens immediate death if Mārīca refuses the deer disguise

Sequence

Rāvaṇa refuses Mārīca's advice and declares that neither Suras nor asuras can change his decision to take Sītā (3.38.1–7)
he lectures him on a minister's obligation to address a King respectfully and avoid unwelcome words (3.38.8–13)
he says he came for assistance, not a judgment on the plan (3.38.14)
he repeats the instructions to become a golden, silver-spotted deer and attract Sītā, expecting both brothers to leave her in pursuit (3.38.15–17)
he offers Mārīca half his Kingdom and freedom to go afterward (3.38.18–19)
then he makes the choice explicit: facing Rāma may risk death, but refusing Rāvaṇa will bring certain death immediately. (3.38.20–21)

Verses 3.38.1–21

3.38.1

mārīcena tu tad vākyaṃ kṣamaṃ yuktaṃ ca rāvaṇaḥ
ukto na pratijagrāha martukāma ivauṣadham

Though addressed by Mārīca with those words, fitting and proper, Rāvaṇa did not accept them, like a man wishing to die (refusing) his medicine.

Words: mārīcena tu — but by Mārīca; tad vākyaṃ — those words; kṣamaṃ — fitting; yuktaṃ ca — and proper; rāvaṇaḥ — Rāvaṇa; ukto — addressed; na pratijagrāha — did not accept; martukāma — wishing to die; ivauṣadham — like medicine

3.38.2

taṃ pathyahitavaktāraṃ mārīcaṃ rākṣasādhipaḥ
abravīt paruṣaṃ vākyam ayuktaṃ kālacoditaḥ

To that Mārīca, who spoke what was wholesome and beneficial, the lord of rākṣasas, driven by fate, spoke harsh and unfitting words:

Words: taṃ — to him; pathyahitavaktāraṃ — speaker of what is wholesome and beneficial; mārīcaṃ — Mārīca; rākṣasādhipaḥ — the lord of rākṣasas; abravīt — spoke; paruṣaṃ — harsh; vākyam — words; ayuktaṃ — unfitting; kālacoditaḥ — driven by fate, impelled by time

3.38.3

yat kilaitad ayuktārthaṃ mārīca mayi kathyate
vākyaṃ niṣphalam atyarthaṃ bījam uptam ivoṣare

This unreasonable thing that is being said to me, Mārīca, is utterly fruitless talk, like seed sown in barren soil.

Words: yat kilaitad — this which indeed; ayuktārthaṃ — of unreasonable meaning; mārīca — O Mārīca; mayi — to me; kathyate — is spoken; vākyaṃ — speech; niṣphalam — fruitless; atyarthaṃ — exceedingly; bījam — seed; uptam — sown; ivoṣare — like in barren soil

3.38.4

tvadvākyair na tu māṃ śakyaṃ bhettuṃ rāmasya saṃyuge
pāpaśīlasya mūrkhasya mānuṣasya viśeṣataḥ

By your words I cannot be turned aside from battle with Rāma—least of all from a man of evil character, a mere fool.

Words: tvadvākyair — by your words; na tu — but not; māṃ — me; śakyaṃ — possible; bhettuṃ — to break, divert; rāmasya — from Rāma; saṃyuge — in battle; pāpaśīlasya — of evil character; mūrkhasya — foolish; mānuṣasya — of a (mere) man; viśeṣataḥ — especially

3.38.5

yas tyaktvā suhṛdo rājyaṃ mātaraṃ pitaraṃ tathā
strīvākyaṃ prākṛtaṃ śrutvā vanam ekapade gataḥ

who, forsaking friends, kingdom, mother, and father, on hearing the vulgar word of a woman, went off to the forest in a single step.

Words: yas — who; tyaktvā — having forsaken; suhṛdo — friends; rājyaṃ — kingdom; mātaraṃ — mother; pitaraṃ — father; tathā — and, likewise; strīvākyaṃ — a woman's word; prākṛtaṃ — vulgar, common; śrutvā — having heard; vanam — to the forest; ekapade — in a single step, instantly; gataḥ — went

3.38.6

avaśyaṃ tu mayā tasya saṃyuge kharaghātinaḥ
prāṇaiḥ priyatarā sītā hartavyā tava saṃnidhau

But I must surely, in your presence, carry off Sītā, who is dearer than life to that slayer of Khara in battle.

Words: avaśyaṃ tu — but assuredly; mayā — by me; tasya — of him; saṃyuge — in battle; kharaghātinaḥ — the slayer of Khara; prāṇaiḥ priyatarā — dearer than life; sītā — Sītā; hartavyā — to be carried off; tava saṃnidhau — in your presence

3.38.7

evaṃ me niścitā buddhir hṛdi mārīca vartate
na vyāvartayituṃ śakyā sendrair api surāsuraiḥ

Such is the resolve fixed in my heart, Mārīca; it cannot be turned aside even by the gods and asuras together with Indra.

Words: evaṃ — thus; me — my; niścitā — determined, fixed; buddhir — resolve, mind; hṛdi — in the heart; mārīca — O Mārīca; vartate — abides, exists; na vyāvartayituṃ — not to be turned away; śakyā — able, possible; sendrair api — even with Indra; surāsuraiḥ — by gods and asuras

3.38.8

doṣaṃ guṇaṃ vā saṃpṛṣṭas tvam evaṃ vaktum arhasi
apāyaṃ vāpy upāyaṃ vā kāryasyāsya viniścane

When consulted about the fault or the merit, you ought to speak fittingly—about the drawback or the means in deciding this undertaking.

Words: doṣaṃ — the fault; guṇaṃ vā — or the merit; saṃpṛṣṭas — when consulted; tvam — you; evaṃ — thus, fittingly; vaktum arhasi — ought to speak; apāyaṃ — the drawback, means of ruin; vāpy — or; upāyaṃ vā — or the means, expedient; kāryasyāsya — of this task; viniścane — in the determination, deciding

3.38.9

saṃpṛṣṭena tu vaktavyaṃ sacivena vipaścitā
udyatāñjalinā rājño ya icched bhūtim ātmanaḥ

A wise minister, when consulted, must speak to the king with palms raised in salutation, if he desires his own welfare.

Words: saṃpṛṣṭena — by (a minister) consulted; tu — indeed; vaktavyaṃ — it should be spoken; sacivena — by a minister; vipaścitā — wise, learned; udyatāñjalinā — with palms raised in salutation; rājño — to the king; ya icched — who might desire; bhūtim — welfare, prosperity; ātmanaḥ — his own

3.38.10

vākyam apratikūlaṃ tu mṛdupūrvaṃ śubhaṃ hitam
upacāreṇa yuktaṃ ca vaktavyo vasudhādhipaḥ

The lord of the earth must be addressed with words that are not disagreeable, gentle, auspicious, beneficial, and coupled with courtesy.

Words: vākyam — words; apratikūlaṃ — not disagreeable; tu — indeed; mṛdupūrvaṃ — gentle (preceded by softness); śubhaṃ — auspicious; hitam — beneficial; upacāreṇa — with courtesy, civility; yuktaṃ ca — and coupled with; vaktavyo — to be addressed; vasudhādhipaḥ — the lord of the earth

3.38.11

sāvamardaṃ tu yad vākyaṃ mārīca hitam ucyate
nābhinandati tad rājā mānārho mānavarjitam

But a word that, however beneficial, Mārīca, is spoken with a slight—that a king worthy of honour, being thus stripped of honour, does not welcome.

Words: sāvamardaṃ — with insult, humiliation; tu — but; yad vākyaṃ — which word; mārīca — O Mārīca; hitam — beneficial; ucyate — is spoken; nābhinandati — does not welcome; tad rājā — that king; mānārho — worthy of honour; mānavarjitam — (a word) stripped of honour

3.38.12

pañcarūpāṇi rājāno dhārayanty amitaujasaḥ
agner indrasya somasya yamasya varuṇasya ca
auṣṇyaṃ tathā vikramaṃ ca saumyaṃ daṇḍaṃ prasannatām

Kings of boundless energy bear five forms—of Agni, Indra, Soma, Yama, and Varuṇa: heat, valour, mildness, punishment, and graciousness.

Words: pañcarūpāṇi — five forms; rājāno — kings; dhārayanty — bear; amitaujasaḥ — of boundless energy; agner — of Agni; indrasya — of Indra; somasya — of Soma; yamasya — of Yama; varuṇasya ca — and of Varuṇa; auṣṇyaṃ — heat (Agni's); tathā — and; vikramaṃ ca — and valour (Indra's); saumyaṃ — mildness (Soma's); daṇḍaṃ — punishment (Yama's); prasannatām — graciousness (Varuṇa's)

3.38.13

tasmāt sarvāsv avasthāsu mānyāḥ pūjyāś ca pārthivāḥ
tvaṃ tu dharmam avijñāya kevalaṃ moham āsthitaḥ

Therefore in all conditions kings are to be revered and honoured; but you, not understanding the law, are wholly given over to delusion.

Words: tasmāt — therefore; sarvāsv avasthāsu — in all conditions; mānyāḥ — to be honoured; pūjyāś ca — and to be revered; pārthivāḥ — kings; tvaṃ tu — but you; dharmam — the law, dharma; avijñāya — not understanding; kevalaṃ — wholly, merely; moham — delusion; āsthitaḥ — settled in, given over to

3.38.14

abhyāgataṃ māṃ daurātmyāt paruṣaṃ vadasīdṛśam
guṇadoṣau na pṛcchāmi kṣamaṃ cātmani rākṣasa
asmiṃs tu sa bhavān kṛtye sāhāryyaṃ kartum arhasi

Out of malice you speak such harsh words to me, who have come to you (as a guest); I ask you neither about merits and faults nor about what is fitting for me, O rākṣasa; but your honour must render assistance in this task.

Words: abhyāgataṃ — who has come (as a guest); māṃ — to me; daurātmyāt — out of malice, wickedness; paruṣaṃ — harsh (words); vadasīdṛśam — you speak such; guṇadoṣau — merits and faults; na pṛcchāmi — I do not ask; kṣamaṃ — what is fitting; cātmani — and for myself; rākṣasa — O rākṣasa; asmiṃs tu — but in this; sa bhavān — your honour; kṛtye — task, deed; sāhāryyaṃ — assistance [source spells 'sāhāryyaṃ']; kartum arhasi — ought to render

3.38.15

sauvarṇas tvaṃ mṛgo bhūtvā citro rajatabindubhiḥ
pralobhayitvā vaidehīṃ yatheṣṭaṃ gantum arhasi

Becoming a golden deer, dappled with silver spots, and having enticed Vaidehī, you may then go where you please.

Words: sauvarṇas — golden; tvaṃ — you; mṛgo — deer; bhūtvā — having become; citro — dappled, variegated; rajatabindubhiḥ — with silver spots; pralobhayitvā — having enticed, lured; vaidehīṃ — Vaidehī; yatheṣṭaṃ — as you please; gantum arhasi — you may go

3.38.16

tvāṃ tu māyā mṛgaṃ dṛṣṭvā kāñcanaṃ jātavismayā
ānayainam iti kṣipraṃ rāmaṃ vakṣyati maithilī

Seeing you as a golden illusion-deer, Maithilī, filled with wonder, will quickly say to Rāma, 'Fetch this one!'

Words: tvāṃ tu — and you; māyā — illusory, magic (compound-initial); mṛgaṃ — deer; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; kāñcanaṃ — golden; jātavismayā — filled with wonder; ānayainam iti — 'fetch this one'; kṣipraṃ — quickly; rāmaṃ — to Rāma; vakṣyati — will say; maithilī — Maithilī

3.38.17

apakrānte ca kākutsthe lakṣmaṇe ca yathāsukham
ānayiṣyāmi vaidehīṃ sahasrākṣaḥ śacīm iva

And when Kākutstha and Lakṣmaṇa have gone away, I shall carry off Vaidehī at my ease, as the thousand-eyed one carried off Śacī.

Words: apakrānte ca — and when (he has) departed; kākutsthe — Kākutstha (Rāma) [loc. abs.]; lakṣmaṇe ca — and Lakṣmaṇa [loc. abs.]; yathāsukham — at ease; ānayiṣyāmi — I shall bring, carry off; vaidehīṃ — Vaidehī; sahasrākṣaḥ — the thousand-eyed one (Indra); śacīm iva — like Śacī

3.38.18

evaṃ kṛtvā tv idaṃ kāryaṃ yatheṣṭaṃ gaccha rākṣasa
rājyasyārdhaṃ pradāsyāmi mārīca tava suvrata

Having thus done this deed, go where you please, O rākṣasa; I will give you half my kingdom, Mārīca, O man of good vows.

Words: evaṃ kṛtvā — having thus done; tv — indeed; idaṃ kāryaṃ — this deed; yatheṣṭaṃ — as you please; gaccha — go; rākṣasa — O rākṣasa; rājyasyārdhaṃ — half of the kingdom; pradāsyāmi — I will give; mārīca — O Mārīca; tava — to you; suvrata — O man of good vows

3.38.19

gaccha saumya śivaṃ mārgaṃ kāryasyāsya vivṛddhaye
prāpya sītām ayuddhena vañcayitvā tu rāghavam
laṅkāṃ prati gamiṣyāmi kṛtakāryaḥ saha tvayā

Go, gentle one, by an auspicious road, for the furtherance of this task; having won Sītā without a fight, deceiving Rāghava, I shall return to Laṅkā, my object accomplished, together with you.

Words: gaccha — go; saumya — O gentle one; śivaṃ mārgaṃ — by an auspicious road; kāryasyāsya — of this task; vivṛddhaye — for the furtherance; prāpya sītām — having won Sītā; ayuddhena — without a fight; vañcayitvā — having deceived; tu — indeed; rāghavam — Rāghava; laṅkāṃ prati — towards Laṅkā; gamiṣyāmi — I shall go; kṛtakāryaḥ — having accomplished (my) task; saha tvayā — together with you

3.38.20

etat kāryam avaśyaṃ me balād api kariṣyasi
rājño hi pratikūlastho na jātu sukham edhate

This task of mine you shall do, even by force if need be; for one who stands opposed to a king never prospers in ease.

Words: etat kāryam — this task; avaśyaṃ — assuredly, necessarily; me — my, for me; balād api — even by force; kariṣyasi — you will do; rājño hi — for of the king; pratikūlastho — standing opposed; na jātu — never; sukham — in ease, happily; edhate — thrives, prospers

3.38.21

āsādyā taṃ jīvitasaṃśayas te mṛtyur dhruvo hy adya mayā virudhya
etad yathāvat parigṛhya buddhyā yad atra pathyaṃ kuru tat tathā tvam

On encountering him, your life would be at risk; but by opposing me, your death today is certain. Grasping this rightly with your mind, do here whatever is best.

Words: āsādyā — on encountering (him); taṃ — him (Rāma); jīvitasaṃśayas — risk to life; te — your; mṛtyur — death; dhruvo — certain; hy adya — indeed today; mayā — with me, by me; virudhya — having opposed; etad — this; yathāvat — rightly, properly; parigṛhya — having grasped; buddhyā — with (your) mind; yad atra — what here; pathyaṃ — is best, wholesome; kuru — do; tat tathā — that, so; tvam — you

← 3.37 Mārīca’s second defeat and terror · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.39 Mārīca’s final warning →

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.

Plain text: /text/3/38.md · JSON: /data/3/38.json