Shloka 3.31.40
अकम्पनवृत्तान्तः — Akampana Reports Janasthana; Ravana Plans Sita’s Abduction
आरक्षो मे हतस्तात रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा।जनस्थानमवध्य तत्सर्वं युधि निपातितम्।।3.31.40।।तस्य मे कुरु साचिव्यं तस्य भार्यापहारणे।
ārakṣo me hatas tāta rāmeṇākliṣṭa-karmaṇā |
janasthānam avadhya tat sarvaṃ yudhi nipātitam || 3.31.40 ||
tasya me kuru sācivyaṃ tasya bhāryāpahāraṇe |
“Dear one, Rāma—unyielding in arduous deeds—has slain my guards; that ‘impregnable’ Janasthāna has been utterly brought down in battle. Therefore, aid me as a counselor in the abduction of his wife.”
O dear, Rama who is capable of doing difficult deeds has killed my sentinels. The indestructible Janasthana has been routed in war. Could you help me in abudcting his wife ? (That is the only way to bring him to his knees).
It illustrates adharma through the explicit proposal of abducting another’s wife—an act opposed to satya, consent, and righteous kingship.
Rāvaṇa reports Janasthāna’s defeat by Rāma and solicits Mārīca’s assistance to execute the plot to abduct Sītā.
Rāma’s steadfast competence is acknowledged indirectly (“akliṣṭa-karmaṇā”); Rāvaṇa’s own trait here is strategic malice.