Shloka 3.40.10
मारीचोपदेश-प्रतिषेधः / Ravana Rejects Maricha’s Counsel and Orders the Golden Deer Deception
वाक्यमप्रितकूलं तु मृदुपूर्वं हितं शुभम्।उपचारेण युक्तं च वक्तव्यो वसुधाधिपः।।3.40.10।।
vākyam apratikūlaṃ tu mṛdupūrvaṃ hitaṃ śubham |
upacāreṇa yuktaṃ ca vaktavyo vasudhādhipaḥ ||
A lord of the earth should be addressed with words that are not hostile—spoken gently, aiming at his welfare and auspicious good—properly framed with due decorum.
A king should be addressed with politeness and decorum, with words not unfavourble intended for his good luck and well-being.
Dharma of speech (vāk-dharma): even truthful counsel should be delivered with courtesy and restraint, especially to those in authority.
Rāvaṇa reacts to Mārīca’s counsel and begins lecturing him on the ‘proper’ manner of addressing a king.
Measured speech and decorum (maryādā in counsel), though here it is invoked by Rāvaṇa to defend his pride.