Shloka 3.38.24

अष्टत्रिंशः सर्गः — मारीचोपदेशः (Maricha’s Warning and the Memory of Rama’s Power)

Devanagari script

क्रीडारतिविधिज्ञानां समाजोत्सवशालिनाम्।रक्षसां चैव सन्तापमनर्थं चाहरिष्यसि।।3.38.24।।

Transliteration

tan mayā vāryamāṇas tvaṃ yadi rāmeṇa vigraham | kariṣyasy āpadaṃ ghorāṃ kṣipraṃ prāpsyasi rāvaṇa || 3.38.23 ||

Translation

Therefore, even as I restrain you with this counsel, if you choose conflict with Rāma, O Rāvaṇa, you will swiftly meet a dreadful calamity.

Context

You will bring grief and disaster into the lives of demons who are sporting in love and who are in the habit of celebrating community festivals with joy.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Rāvaṇa
• Kabandha

FAQs

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

Heeding truthful counsel is part of Dharma; ignoring warning and choosing aggression leads to self-made ruin.

What is the narrative situation?

Kabandha directly warns Rāvaṇa not to wage war with Rāma, predicting swift disaster.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthful admonition (satya-vacana) and the duty to warn—even an adversary—of the consequences of adharma.