Shloka 3.36.4

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

Devanagari script

जानीषे त्वं जनस्थाने यथा भ्राता खरो मम।दूषणश्च महाबाहु स्वसा शूर्पणखा च मे।।3.36.2।।त्रिशिराश्च महातेजा राक्षसः पिशिताशनः।अन्ये च बहवश्शूरा लब्धलक्षा निशाचराः।।3.36.3।।वसत्नि मन्नियोगेन नित्यवासं च राक्षसाः।बाधमाना महारण्ये मुनीन्वै धर्मचारिणः।।3.36.4।।

Transliteration

vasanti manniyogena nityavāsaṃ ca rākṣasāḥ | bādhamānā mahāraṇye munīn vai dharmacāriṇaḥ ||3.36.4||

Translation

At my command those rākṣasas dwell there permanently, and in that vast forest they continually harass the sages who follow the path of dharma.

Context

You know that my brothers, Khara and Dusana, the strongarmed heroes, my sister Surpanakha and the mighty cannibal Trisira, and many other heroic demons successful in hitting their targets are bonafide residents. They have been harassing the followers of righteous path (the sages) at my behest.

Characters & Entities

• Ravana
• Rakshasas
• Muni
• Mahāraṇya
• Janasthana

FAQs

What adharma is highlighted in this verse?

Ravana states that, by his command, rākṣasas permanently reside in the forest and harass dharma-practicing sages—an explicit admission of organized violence against the righteous, which is adharma.

How does this verse relate to Satya (truthfulness) in the narrative context?

Ravana speaks frankly about his actions and intent; the verse functions as a truthful disclosure of wrongdoing, showing that speaking truth (satya) is ethically distinct from acting rightly (dharma).