Shloka 2
मारीचप्रलोभनम् / Ravana Solicits Maricha’s Aid
Golden Deer Stratagem
जानीषे त्वं जनस्थाने यथा भ्राता खरो मम।दूषणश्च महाबाहु स्वसा शूर्पणखा च मे।।।।त्रिशिराश्च महातेजा राक्षसः पिशिताशनः।अन्ये च बहवश्शूरा लब्धलक्षा निशाचराः।।।।वसत्नि मन्नियोगेन नित्यवासं च राक्षसाः।बाधमाना महारण्ये मुनीन्वै धर्मचारिणः।।।।
jānīṣe tvaṃ janasthāne yathā bhrātā kharo mama |
dūṣaṇaś ca mahābāhu svasā śūrpaṇakhā ca me ||
triśirāś ca mahātejā rākṣasaḥ piśitāśanaḥ |
anye ca bahavaḥ śūrā labdhalakṣā niśācarāḥ ||
vasanti manniyogena nityavāsaṃ ca rākṣasāḥ |
bādhamānā mahāraṇye munīn vai dharmacāriṇaḥ ||
Tu sais comment, à Janasthāna, mon frère Khara et le puissant Dūṣaṇa, ma sœur Śūrpaṇakhā, le rākṣasa rayonnant Triśiras, mangeur de chair, ainsi que bien d’autres braves rôdeurs de la nuit—toujours sûrs de leur but—demeurent là sur mon ordre comme résidents permanents, tourmentant dans la grande forêt les munis qui pratiquent le dharma.
You know that my brothers, Khara and Dusana, the strong-armed heroes, my sister Surpanakha and the mighty cannibal Trisira, and many other heroic demons successful in hitting their targets are bonafide residents. They have been harassing the followers of righteous path (the sages) at my behest.
FAQs
The verse frames a direct violation of dharma: the harassment of dharmacārin sages. Protecting ascetics and allowing spiritual practice to proceed unharmed is a dharmic duty; obstructing it is adharma.
Rāvaṇa reminds Mārīca of the rākṣasa presence and power structure at Janasthāna, emphasizing that these forces act under his orders and oppress forest sages.
The sages’ steadfastness in dharma (dharmacaryā) is highlighted indirectly, standing in contrast to the rākṣasas’ violence and lawlessness.