Shloka 21
मारीचोपदेशः — Maricha’s Counsel to Ravana
On Rama’s Dharma and the Peril of Abduction
किमुद्यममिमं व्यर्थं कृत्वा ते राक्षसाधिप।दृष्टश्चेत्वं रणे तेन तदन्तं तव जीवितम्।।।।
kim udyamam imaṃ vyarthaṃ kṛtvā te rākṣasādhipa | dṛṣṭaś cet tvaṃ raṇe tena tad-antaṃ tava jīvitam ||
Ô seigneur des rākṣasas, pourquoi entreprendre cet effort vain ? S’il te voit sur le champ de bataille, à cet instant même ta vie prendra fin.
O chief of the demons, why do you make this futile attempt ? The moment you are seen by Rama in war will be the last of your life.
FAQs
Actions against dharma bring swift consequences; wisdom is to abandon a sinful course before it becomes irreversible.
Mārīca bluntly predicts Rāvaṇa’s death if he confronts Rāma as a result of the planned wrongdoing.
Truthful warning (satya) spoken without fear of displeasing a powerful king.