Shloka 23
मारीचोपदेश
प्रतिषेधः / Ravana Rejects Maricha’s Counsel and Orders the Golden Deer Deception
एवं कृत्वा त्विदं कार्यं यथेष्टं गच्छ राक्षस।राज्यस्यार्धं प्रयच्छामि मारीच तव सुव्रत।।3.40.23।।
evaṃ kṛtvā tv idaṃ kāryaṃ yathā-iṣṭaṃ gaccha rākṣasa | rājyasya ardhaṃ prayacchāmi mārīca tava suvrata || 3.40.23 ||
अशा रीतीने हे काम करून, हे राक्षसा, तू इच्छेनुसार कुठेही जा. हे दृढव्रती मारीचा, मी तुला माझ्या राज्याचा अर्धा भाग देईन.
You may go wherever you want after accomplishing this task. I will give you, O demon of determination half my kingdom.
FAQs
It shows corruption of judgment through inducement: offering power as a reward for wrongdoing opposes dharma, which requires right means, not merely desired ends.
Rāvaṇa attempts to secure Mārīca’s cooperation by promising a major political reward—half the kingdom.
The virtue under pressure is integrity—resisting unethical incentives even when they are materially overwhelming.