Shloka 3

मारीचोपदेश

प्रतिषेधः / Ravana Rejects Maricha’s Counsel and Orders the Golden Deer Deception

Devanagari script

यत्किलैतदयुक्तार्थं मारीच मयि कथ्यते।वाक्यं निष्फलमत्यर्थमुप्तं बीजमिवोषरे।।3.40.3।।

Transliteration

yat kilaitad ayuktārthaṃ mārīca mayi kathyate |

vākyaṃ niṣphalam atyartham uptaṃ bījam ivoṣare ||3.40.3||

Translation

ഓ മാരീചാ, നീ എന്നോടു പറയുന്നത് അയോഗ്യവും നിർഥകവും ആകുന്നു; ഉപ്പുകരിഞ്ഞ ബഞ്ചരഭൂമിയിൽ വിതച്ച വിത്തുപോലെ അത്യന്തം നിഷ്ഫലം.

Word by Word

• yat: which/that (thing)
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun

• kila: indeed/forsooth
• kila: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यालङ्कार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kila (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis/indeed

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun

• ayukta-artham: having improper sense; inappropriate in meaning
• ayukta-artham: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-yukta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying vākyaṃ

• mārīca: O Maricha
• mārīca: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārīca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• mayi: in/with regard to me
• mayi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Locative (सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• kathyate: is being said/told
• kathyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kath (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Passive voice (कर्मणि प्रयोग), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• vākyam: speech/statement
• vākyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• niṣphalam: fruitless
• niṣphalam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣ-phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying vākyaṃ

• atyartham: excessively/very much
• atyartham: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ati-artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषण-रूपे द्वितीया एकवचन); intensifier

• uptam: sown
• uptam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vap (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त, Kta); Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agreeing with bījam

• bījam: seed
• bījam: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bīja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• iva: like/as
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमाद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Particle of comparison (उपमा-अव्यय)

• uṣare: in barren/saline soil
• uṣare: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

Your survival is doubtful after facing Rama in combat. But your death is certain if you oppose me now. Think carefuly and do whatever is desirable for you in the present circumstances.ইত্যার্ষে শ্রীমদ্রামাযণে বাল্মীকীয আদিকাব্যে অরণ্যকাণ্ডে চত্বারিংশস্সর্গঃ৷৷Thus ends the fortieth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Mārīca

FAQs

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

Dharma values receptive, reasoned listening to good counsel. The verse illustrates adharma through arrogance: rejecting wise advice makes even truthful speech ‘fruitless,’ like seed on barren land.

What is the narrative situation?

In Araṇya-kāṇḍa, Rāvaṇa debates with Mārīca about the plan connected to Sītā; Rāvaṇa dismisses Mārīca’s warning as useless.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast (through negation), the virtue is humility and openness to counsel—qualities absent in Rāvaṇa’s response here.