Shloka 3.40.15
मारीचोपदेश-प्रतिषेधः / Ravana Rejects Maricha’s Counsel and Orders the Golden Deer Deception
गुणदोषौ न पृच्छामि क्षमं चात्मनि राक्षस।मयोक्तं तव चैतावत्संप्रत्यमितविक्रमः।।3.40.15।।
guṇadoṣau na pṛcchāmi kṣamaṃ cātmani rākṣasa |
mayoktaṃ tava caitāvat saṃpraty amitavikramaḥ ||
O rākṣasa—O one of boundless prowess—I do not ask you now to weigh merits and faults, nor what is agreeable to you; I have said only this much to you at present.
O demon ! O extremely valiant demon ! I ask you(to do) this much now. I am not asking you whether it is good or bad or whether it is for my welfare or not.
It illustrates adharma by contrast: refusing to consider right and wrong (guṇa-doṣa) is a rejection of dharmic deliberation.
Rāvaṇa moves from argument to command, dismissing moral evaluation and pressing Mārīca toward compliance.
The need for moral discernment is emphasized negatively—Rāvaṇa’s impatience with ethical scrutiny.