Shloka 13
मारीचप्रलोभनम् / Ravana Solicits Maricha’s Aid
Golden Deer Stratagem
येन वैरं विनाऽरण्ये सत्वमाश्रित्य केवलम्।।3.36.12।।कर्णनासापहरणाद्भगिनी मे विरूपिता।तस्यभार्यां जनस्थानात्सीतां सुरसुतोपमाम्।3.36.13।।आनयिष्यामि विक्रम्य सहायस्तत्र मे भव।
tasya bhāryāṁ janasthānāt sītāṁ surasutopamām | ānayiṣyāmi vikramya sahāyas tatra me bhava || 3.36.13 ||
जनस्थानातून त्याची पत्नी, देवकन्येसमान सीता हिला मी पराक्रमाने बलपूर्वक आणीन; त्या कार्यात तू माझा सहाय्यक हो.
With no enmity whatsoever, merely because he has strength, he cut off the nose and ears of my sister and mutilated her. His wife Sita is like the daughter of heaven. I would like to abduct her with force from Janasthana for which you should be my accomplice.
FAQs
The verse marks a clear breach of dharma: abducting another’s wife is a grave adharma; praising Sītā’s divine-like beauty while plotting her harm shows desire overriding righteousness.
Rāvaṇa explicitly reveals his intent to abduct Sītā from Jana-sthāna and asks Mārīca to assist, setting the central deception of the episode.
The virtue highlighted by contrast is fidelity and protection of marital dharma (Sītā–Rāma); Rāvaṇa embodies the opposite—unrestrained desire.