Shloka 3.36.1

मारीचप्रलोभनम् / Ravana Solicits Maricha’s Aid (Golden Deer Stratagem)

Devanagari script

मारीच श्रूयातां तात वचनं मम भाषतः।आर्तोऽस्मि मम चार्तस्य भवान्हि परमा गतिः।।।।

Transliteration

mārīca śrūyatāṁ tāta vacanaṁ mama bhāṣataḥ | ārto 'smi mama cārtasya bhavān hi paramā gatiḥ || 3.36.1 ||

Translation

Mārīca, dear one—listen to the words I speak. I am in distress, and for me in this distress you are indeed the final refuge.

Context

O dear Maricha! hear my words. I am distressed and you are my ultimate refuge.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Mārīca

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The verse shows how appeals for help can be ethically ambiguous: seeking refuge is natural, but when the purpose is adharma, the same language of dependence becomes manipulation rather than righteous reliance.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa approaches Mārīca and opens the conversation by claiming distress and requesting attentive hearing, preparing to enlist him in a deceptive plan.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse foregrounds persuasion and emotional leverage rather than virtue—Rāvaṇa attempts to secure cooperation by presenting Mārīca as his ‘ultimate recourse’.