Shloka 3.31.47
अकम्पनवृत्तान्तः — Akampana Reports Janasthana; Ravana Plans Sita’s Abduction
असौ रणान्तः स्थितिसंधिवालो विदग्धरक्षोमृगहा नृसिंहः।सुप्तस्त्वया बोधयितुं न युक्तः शराङ्गपूर्णो निशितासिदंष्ट्रः।।3.31.47।।
asau raṇāntaḥ sthiti-saṃdhi-vālaḥ vidagdha-rakṣo-mṛga-hā nṛsiṃhaḥ | suptas tvayā bodhayituṃ na yuktaḥ śarāṅga-pūrṇo niśitāsi-daṃṣṭraḥ || 3.31.47 ||
He is a man-lion on the battlefield, a slayer of the ‘deer’ that are crafty rākṣasas, fierce in war. It is not fitting for you to rouse him while he sleeps—his body bristles with arrows, and his fangs are keen swords.
Rama is a lion in the form of man, a lion on war-front with its tail touching the waist when angry. This lion is deft in killing deer in the form of clever demons. His body is full of arrows. The sharp swords are his pointed teeth. It does not behove you to rouse such a lion who is asleep.
Dharma teaches restraint against needless provocation: awakening a righteous, powerful protector through wrongdoing is both unethical and self-destructive.
Mārīca intensifies his warning by portraying Rāma as a ‘sleeping lion’ whose awakening will bring swift destruction to aggressors.
Protective valor: Rāma’s readiness to destroy evil when provoked, coupled with the implied peace of leaving him unprovoked.