Shloka 3.40.27
मारीचोपदेश-प्रतिषेधः / Ravana Rejects Maricha’s Counsel and Orders the Golden Deer Deception
आसाद्य तं जीवितसंशयस्ते मृत्युर्ध्रुवो ह्यद्य मया विरुध्य।एतद्यथावत्प्रतिगृह्य बुद्ध्या यदत्र पथ्यं कुरु तत्तथा त्वम्।।3.40.27।।
yat kilaitad ayuktārthaṃ mārīca mayi kathyate |
vākyaṃ niṣphalam atyartham uptaṃ bījam ivoṣare ||3.40.3||
O Maricha, what you are saying to me is ill-suited and purposeless—utterly fruitless, like a seed sown in saline, barren ground.
Your survival is doubtful after facing Rama in combat. But your death is certain if you oppose me now. Think carefuly and do whatever is desirable for you in the present circumstances.ইত্যার্ষে শ্রীমদ্রামাযণে বাল্মীকীয আদিকাব্যে অরণ্যকাণ্ডে চত্বারিংশস্সর্গঃ৷৷Thus ends the fortieth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.
Dharma values receptive, reasoned listening to good counsel. The verse illustrates adharma through arrogance: rejecting wise advice makes even truthful speech ‘fruitless,’ like seed on barren land.
In Araṇya-kāṇḍa, Rāvaṇa debates with Mārīca about the plan connected to Sītā; Rāvaṇa dismisses Mārīca’s warning as useless.
By contrast (through negation), the virtue is humility and openness to counsel—qualities absent in Rāvaṇa’s response here.