Shloka 2
मारीचप्रलोभनम् / Ravana Solicits Maricha’s Aid
Golden Deer Stratagem
जानीषे त्वं जनस्थाने यथा भ्राता खरो मम।दूषणश्च महाबाहु स्वसा शूर्पणखा च मे।।।।त्रिशिराश्च महातेजा राक्षसः पिशिताशनः।अन्ये च बहवश्शूरा लब्धलक्षा निशाचराः।।।।वसत्नि मन्नियोगेन नित्यवासं च राक्षसाः।बाधमाना महारण्ये मुनीन्वै धर्मचारिणः।।।।
jānīṣe tvaṃ janasthāne yathā bhrātā kharo mama |
dūṣaṇaś ca mahābāhu svasā śūrpaṇakhā ca me ||
triśirāś ca mahātejā rākṣasaḥ piśitāśanaḥ |
anye ca bahavaḥ śūrā labdhalakṣā niśācarāḥ ||
vasanti manniyogena nityavāsaṃ ca rākṣasāḥ |
bādhamānā mahāraṇye munīn vai dharmacāriṇaḥ ||
Engkau mengetahui bahawa di Janasthāna, saudaraku Khara, Dūṣaṇa yang berlengan perkasa, saudariku Śūrpaṇakhā, rākṣasa Triśiras yang bercahaya gagah—pemakan daging—serta ramai lagi pahlawan pengembara malam yang tidak pernah tersasar sasarannya, semuanya tinggal tetap di sana atas perintahku; mereka mengganggu para muni, pertapa yang meniti dharma, di rimba besar itu.
You know that my brothers, Khara and Dusana, the strong-armed heroes, my sister Surpanakha and the mighty cannibal Trisira, and many other heroic demons successful in hitting their targets are bonafide residents. They have been harassing the followers of righteous path (the sages) at my behest.
FAQs
The verse frames a direct violation of dharma: the harassment of dharmacārin sages. Protecting ascetics and allowing spiritual practice to proceed unharmed is a dharmic duty; obstructing it is adharma.
Rāvaṇa reminds Mārīca of the rākṣasa presence and power structure at Janasthāna, emphasizing that these forces act under his orders and oppress forest sages.
The sages’ steadfastness in dharma (dharmacaryā) is highlighted indirectly, standing in contrast to the rākṣasas’ violence and lawlessness.