# Araṇya Kāṇḍa 39 — Mārīca’s final warning *He condemns advisers who fail to restrain a destructive ruler and predicts that the abduction will kill them both and ruin Laṅkā* Portion: The abduction plan and Mārīca’s warnings · Verses: 20 · Ref format: 3.39. ## Sequence - Mārīca asks who has advised Rāvaṇa into this trap and suggests that such advice serves his enemies (39.1–5) - he condemns ministers who fail to restrain a ruler on a destructive course, because the ruler's failure ruins everyone dependent on him (39.6–14) - he predicts destruction for the rākṣasas under Rāvaṇa's leadership (39.15–16) - expecting Rāma to kill him, he says at least he will die at an enemy's hands → Rāvaṇa should regard his own death and that of his relatives as equally certain once he takes Sītā (39.17–18) - Mārīca concludes that the scheme will destroy both of them, Laṅkā, and its people, but recognizes that Rāvaṇa will not listen (39.19–20). ## Verses **3.39.1** ājñapto rājavad vākyaṃ pratikūlaṃ niśācaraḥ abravīt paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ mārīco rākṣasādhipam Commanded in kingly fashion with those adverse words, the night-ranger Mārīca spoke harsh words to the lord of rākṣasas: **3.39.2** kenāyam upadiṣṭas te vināśaḥ pāpakarmaṇā saputrasya sarāṣṭrasya sāmātyasya niśācara By what evil-doer was this destruction of you counselled—of you together with your sons, your kingdom, and your ministers, O night-ranger? **3.39.3** kas tvayā sukhinā rājan nābhinandati pāpakṛt kenedam upadiṣṭaṃ te mṛtyudvāram upāyataḥ Which evil-doer, O king, does not rejoice at your (ruin, while you rest) content? By whom has this gateway to death been craftily pointed out to you? **3.39.4** śatravas tava suvyaktaṃ hīnavīryā niśācara icchanti tvāṃ vinaśyantam uparuddhaṃ balīyasā Clearly, O night-ranger, your enemies of feeble strength wish you to perish, checked (as you will be) by one mightier than you. **3.39.5** kenedam upadiṣṭaṃ te kṣudreṇāhitavādinā yas tvām icchati naśyantaṃ svakṛtena niśācara By what mean, ill-speaking one was this counselled to you—one who wishes you to perish by your own deed, O night-ranger? **3.39.6** vadhyāḥ khalu na hanyante sacivās tava rāvaṇa ye tvām utpatham ārūḍhaṃ na nigṛhṇanti sarvaśaḥ Truly your ministers deserve death yet go unpunished, Rāvaṇa—those who do not by every means restrain you when you have taken to the wrong path. **3.39.7** amātyaiḥ kāmavṛtto hi rājā kāpatham āśritaḥ nigrāhyaḥ sarvathā sadbhir na nigrāhyo nigṛhyase For a self-willed king who has taken to an evil road ought by all means to be restrained by good ministers; but you, though deserving restraint, go unrestrained. **3.39.8** dharmam arthaṃ ca kāmaṃ ca yaśaś ca jayatāṃ vara svāmiprasādāt sacivāḥ prāpnuvanti niśācara Righteousness, wealth, pleasure, and fame, O best of conquerors, ministers obtain through the favour of their master, O night-ranger. **3.39.9** viparyaye tu tat sarvaṃ vyarthaṃ bhavati rāvaṇa vyasanaṃ svāmivaiguṇyāt prāpnuvantītare janāḥ But in the reverse case all that becomes vain, Rāvaṇa; through the master's fault other people meet with disaster. **3.39.10** rājamūlo hi dharmaś ca jayaś ca jayatāṃ vara tasmāt sarvāsv avasthāsu rakṣitavyo narādhipaḥ For both dharma and victory have the king as their root, O best of conquerors; therefore in all conditions the king must be protected. **3.39.11** rājyaṃ pālayituṃ śakyaṃ na tīkṣṇena niśācara na cāpi pratikūlena nāvinītena rākṣasa A kingdom cannot be governed by a harsh (king), O night-ranger, nor by a perverse one, nor by an undisciplined one, O rākṣasa. **3.39.12** ye tīkṣṇamantrāḥ sacivā bhajyante saha tena vai viṣameṣu rathāḥ śīghraṃ mandasārathayo yathā Ministers of harsh counsel are broken along with him (the king), just as chariots with poor charioteers are swiftly wrecked on rough ground. **3.39.13** bahavaḥ sādhavo loke yuktadharmam anuṣṭhitāḥ pareṣām aparādhena vinaṣṭāḥ saparicchadāḥ Many virtuous men in the world, who followed the prescribed dharma, have perished with all their belongings through the offence of others. **3.39.14** svāminā pratikūlena prajās tīkṣṇena rāvaṇa rakṣyamāṇā na vardhante meṣā gomāyunā yathā Guarded by a perverse and harsh master, Rāvaṇa, subjects do not thrive, like sheep guarded by a jackal. **3.39.15** avaśyaṃ vinaśiṣyanti sarve rāvaṇarākṣasāḥ yeṣāṃ tvaṃ karkaśo rājā durbuddhir ajitendriyaḥ Assuredly all the rākṣasas of Rāvaṇa will perish—those whose king you are, harsh, of evil mind, and with unsubdued senses. **3.39.16** tad idaṃ kākatālīyaṃ ghoram āsāditaṃ tvayā atra kiṃ śobhanaṃ yat tvaṃ sasainyo vinaśiṣyasi This terrible disaster, come by mere chance, you have brought upon yourself; what good is there in this—that you, together with your army, shall perish? **3.39.17** māṃ nihatya tu rāmo 'sau nacirāt tvāṃ vadhiṣyati anena kṛtakṛtyo 'smi mriye yad ariṇā hataḥ When that Rāma has slain me, he will before long slay you too; by this at least I am fulfilled—that I die slain by an enemy. **3.39.18** darśanād eva rāmasya hataṃ mām upadhāraya ātmānaṃ ca hataṃ viddhi hṛtvā sītāṃ sabāndhavam Regard me as slain at the very sight of Rāma; and once you have carried off Sītā, know yourself, with your kinsmen, as slain. **3.39.19** ānayiṣyāmi cet sītām āśramāt sahito mayā naiva tvam asi naivāhaṃ naiva laṅkā na rākṣasāḥ If I shall bring Sītā from the hermitage together with you, then neither will you exist, nor I, nor Laṅkā, nor the rākṣasas. **3.39.20** nivāryamāṇas tu mayā hitaiṣiṇā na mṛṣyase vākyam idaṃ niśācara paretakalpā hi gatāyuṣo narā hitaṃ na gṛhṇanti suhṛdbhir īritam Though restrained by me who wish you well, you will not brook this word, O night-ranger; for men whose life is spent, all but dead, do not heed the good counsel urged by their friends.