मारीचाश्रमगमनम्
Ravana’s Journey to Maricha’s Hermitage
तं स्वयं पूजयित्वा तु भोजनेनोदकेन च।अर्थोपहितया वाचा मारीचो वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।।।
taṃ svayaṃ pūjayitvā tu bhojanenodakena ca |
arthopahitayā vācā mārīco vākyam abravīt ||
Setelah menghormatinya sendiri dengan hidangan dan air, Mārīca pun berkata dengan tutur kata yang sarat maksud.
Thus ordered, the smart charioteer got the chariot of his choice harnessed in an instant.
Speech should be artha-yukta—truthful and purposeful. The Ramayana repeatedly treats vāṇī (speech) as a moral instrument that can uphold dharma or enable adharma.
Hospitality concludes and the dialogue begins; Mārīca prepares to question Rāvaṇa’s sudden arrival.
Measured, meaningful speech—communication that is not idle but directed toward understanding motives and circumstances.