Shloka 3.37.7
मारीचोपदेशः — Maricha’s Counsel to Ravana (On Rama’s Dharma and the Peril of Abduction)
त्वद्विधः कामवृत्तो हि दुश्शीलः पापमन्त्रितः।आत्मानं स्वजनं राष्ट्रं स राजा हन्ति दुर्मतिः।।।।
ahaṃ tu manye tava na kṣamaṃ raṇe samāgamaṃ kosalarājasūnunā |
idaṃ hi bhūyaḥ śṛṇu vākyam uttamaṃ kṣamaṃ ca yuktaṃ ca niśācareśvara ||
For my part, I think it is not proper for you to meet the son of the king of Kosala in battle. Hear again these excellent words—both fitting and reasonable, O lord of the night-roamers.
A king who is a slave to passion, who is of bad conduct, of wicked thoughts, advised in evil ways destroys himself, his kith and kin and the entire kingdom.
Dharma includes restraint and choosing the reasonable course (yukta); one should not enter a war that is unjust or disastrously imprudent.
Mārīca concludes his warning by advising Rāvaṇa that confronting Rama in battle is improper and irrational, urging him to heed sound counsel.
The virtue of listening to wise, fitting advice—placing reason and propriety above ego and desire.