Shloka 3.40.24

मारीचोपदेश-प्रतिषेधः / Ravana Rejects Maricha’s Counsel and Orders the Golden Deer Deception

Devanagari script

गच्छ सौम्य शिवं मार्गं कार्यस्यास्य विवृद्धये।अहं त्वानुगमिष्यामि सरथो दण्डकावनम्।।3.40.24।।

Transliteration

gaccha saumya śivaṃ mārgaṃ kāryasya asya vivṛddhaye | ahaṃ tvā anugamiṣyāmi sa-ratho daṇḍakāvanam || 3.40.24 ||

Translation

Go, gentle one—may your road be auspicious for the full success of this mission. I will follow you, mounted on my chariot, into the Daṇḍaka forest.

Context

Go and accomplish this task. Let your path be auspicious. I will follow you on the chariot into the Dandaka forest.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Mārīca
• Daṇḍaka forest

FAQs

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

The verse highlights ethical irony: invoking auspiciousness (śiva) for an unrighteous act shows how sacred language can be misused when satya and dharma are abandoned.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa sends Mārīca ahead and declares he will follow by chariot into Daṇḍaka to execute the plot.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast, the virtue of aligning words with righteous intent is implied—ethical speech should support dharma, not conceal adharma.