Shloka 3
अष्टत्रिंशः सर्गः — मारीचोपदेशः
Maricha’s Warning and the Memory of Rama’s Power
विश्वामित्रोऽथ धर्मात्मा मद्वित्रस्तो महामुनिः।।3.38.3।।स्वयं गत्वा दशरथं नरेन्द्रमिदमब्रवीत्।
vyacaraṁ daṇḍakāraṇye ṛṣi-māṁsāni bhakṣayan |
ข้าพเจ้าเที่ยวไปในป่าทัณฑกะ กินเนื้อของเหล่าฤๅษีเป็นอาหาร
'O scourge of foes! as you wish, let your great army wait here. Even though Rama is young he is glorious, and capable of subduing the enemy. I will take him. Be blessed.'
FAQs
Harming the innocent—especially ascetics devoted to tapas and yajña—is a grave violation of dharma; the Ramayana repeatedly treats protection of such persons as a royal and heroic duty.
Mārīca confesses his atrocities in Daṇḍaka, establishing why sages seek protection and why Rāma’s role becomes necessary.
The implied virtue is compassion and guardianship: dharmic power protects the vulnerable rather than preying upon them.