Shloka 15
मारीचोपदेश
प्रतिषेधः / Ravana Rejects Maricha’s Counsel and Orders the Golden Deer Deception
गुणदोषौ न पृच्छामि क्षमं चात्मनि राक्षस।मयोक्तं तव चैतावत्संप्रत्यमितविक्रमः।।3.40.15।।
guṇadoṣau na pṛcchāmi kṣamaṃ cātmani rākṣasa |
mayoktaṃ tava caitāvat saṃpraty amitavikramaḥ ||
Ô rākṣasa—toi dont la prouesse est sans bornes—je ne te demande pas maintenant de peser qualités et défauts, ni ce qui t’est agréable ; je ne t’ai dit que cela, pour l’heure.
O demon ! O extremely valiant demon ! I ask you(to do) this much now. I am not asking you whether it is good or bad or whether it is for my welfare or not.
FAQs
It illustrates adharma by contrast: refusing to consider right and wrong (guṇa-doṣa) is a rejection of dharmic deliberation.
Rāvaṇa moves from argument to command, dismissing moral evaluation and pressing Mārīca toward compliance.
The need for moral discernment is emphasized negatively—Rāvaṇa’s impatience with ethical scrutiny.