Shloka 3.47.40

सीतारावणसंवादः — Ravana Reveals Himself; Sita Affirms Rama’s Dharma

Devanagari script

मन्दरं पर्वतश्रेष्ठं पाणिना हर्तुमिच्छसि।कालकूटं विषं पीत्वा स्वस्तिमान्गन्तुमिच्छसि।।3.47.40।।

Transliteration

mandaraṁ parvataśreṣṭhaṁ pāṇinā hartum icchasi | kālakūṭaṁ viṣaṁ pītvā svastimān gantum icchasi || 3.47.40 ||

Translation

You wish to lift Mandara, the best of mountains, with a single hand; and after drinking the deadly Kālakūṭa poison, you still expect to walk away unharmed.

Context

You are trying to carry the greatest of mountains, the Mandara, with one hand. You are wishing to go safe after drinking deadly poison (produced from the churning of the ocean).

Characters & Entities

• Mārīca
• Rāvaṇa
• Mandara (mountain)
• Kālakūṭa (poison)

FAQs

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

Adharma mixed with arrogance leads to certain ruin; Dharma requires humility and respect for moral limits.

What is the narrative situation?

Mārīca warns that Rāvaṇa’s plan is as impossible and fatal as lifting Mandara with one hand or surviving after drinking Kālakūṭa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and prudence—recognizing that some acts are intrinsically destructive.