Shloka 3.40.3
मारीचोपदेश-प्रतिषेधः / Ravana Rejects Maricha’s Counsel and Orders the Golden Deer Deception
यत्किलैतदयुक्तार्थं मारीच मयि कथ्यते।वाक्यं निष्फलमत्यर्थमुप्तं बीजमिवोषरे।।3.40.3।।
tvad-vākyair na tu māṃ śakyaṃ bhettuṃ rāmasya saṃyuge |
pāpaśīlasya mūrkhasya mānuṣasya viśeṣataḥ ||3.40.4||
Your words cannot turn me back from meeting Rama in battle—Rama, whom I deem sinful and foolish, and above all merely a human.
O Maricha, the words addressed to me are not appropriate.Your advice is extremely fruitless like a seed sown in saline, barren soil.
Dharma requires right discernment (viveka) about virtue and power. Misjudging the righteous as ‘sinful’ and acting from ego leads to adharma and self-destruction.
Rāvaṇa refuses Mārīca’s attempt to deter him, insisting on confronting Rāma and belittling him as only human.
The implied virtue is discernment and respect for righteousness; Rāvaṇa instead displays arrogance and contempt.