मारीचाश्रमगमनम्
Ravana’s Journey to Maricha’s Hermitage
तत्र कृष्णाजिनधरं जटावल्कलधारिणम्।ददर्श नियताहारं मारीचं नाम राक्षसाम्।।।।
tatra kṛṣṇājinadharaṃ jaṭāvalkaladhāriṇam |
dadarśa niyatāhāraṃ mārīcaṃ nāma rākṣasam ||
وہاں اس نے ماریچ نامی راکشس کو دیکھا—سیاہ ہرن کی کھال اوڑھے، جٹا اور وَلکل (چھال کے) لباس پہنے، اور نپی تلی آہار پر قائم۔
O king ! O lord of the demons ! hope all is well in Lanka. What brings you here again so soon ?
The verse cautions that ascetic outward signs can be imitated; dharma requires inner truth (satya) and intention, not merely external symbols of renunciation.
Rāvaṇa arrives and finds Mārīca in an ascetic-like guise, setting the stage for persuasion and conspiracy.
Self-restraint is suggested by “regulated food,” but the context (a rākṣasa in ascetic garb) invites scrutiny of whether the restraint is genuine or strategic.