Shloka 3.40.9
मारीचोपदेश-प्रतिषेधः / Ravana Rejects Maricha’s Counsel and Orders the Golden Deer Deception
सम्पृष्टेन तु वक्तव्यं सचिवेन विपश्चिता।उद्यताञ्जलिना राज्ञे य इच्छेद्भूतिमात्मनः।।3.40.9।।
āsādya taṃ jīvitasaṃśayas te mṛtyur dhruvo hy adya mayā virudhya |
etad yathāvat pratigṛhya buddhyā yad atra pathyaṃ kuru tat tathā tvam ||3.40.27||
If you confront him, your life becomes uncertain; but if you oppose me today, your death is certain. Grasp this rightly with your understanding, and do here and now whatever is truly beneficial for you.
A wise counsellor should give advice to the king only when his opinion is sought and that too with folded hands, if he wishes his own prosperity.
Dharma rejects coercion and intimidation as tools of decision-making. The verse shows adharma in leadership: fear is used to force compliance rather than seeking satya-based counsel.
Rāvaṇa corners Mārīca with a threat: facing Rāma is dangerous, but disobeying Rāvaṇa is immediately fatal—pressuring Mārīca to cooperate in the plot.
The implied virtue is moral courage—choosing what is truly ‘pathyam’ (wholesome/right) despite threats. The verse highlights how difficult dharmic choice becomes under coercion.