Shloka 3

मारीचोपदेशः — Maricha’s Counsel to Ravana

On Rama’s Dharma and the Peril of Abduction

Devanagari script

न नूनं बुध्यसे रामं महावीर्यं गुणोन्नतम्।अयुक्तचारश्चपलो महेन्द्रवरुणोपमम्।।।।

Transliteration

na nūnaṃ budhyase rāmaṃ mahāvīryaṃ guṇonnatam |

ayuktacāraś capalo mahendravaruṇopamam ||

Translation

یقیناً تُو رام کو نہیں پہچانتا—جو عظیم پرَاکرم والا اور اوصاف میں بلند ہے، اندرا اور ورُن کے مانند۔ تُو بے قرار اور خبرگیری میں غافل ہے، اسی لیے اس کی حقیقت کو نہیں سمجھتا۔

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, negation particle (निषेध)

• nūnam: surely
• nūnam: Prakaraṇa (प्रकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nūnam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, emphatic adverb (निश्चयार्थक)

• budhyase: you understand/know
• budhyase: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √budh (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present/लट्), Ātmanepada, Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd person), Singular

• rāmam: Rama
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• mahā-vīryam: of great valor
• mahā-vīryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: 'great in valor'; Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifying rāmam

• guṇa-unnatam: excellent in qualities
• guṇa-unnatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + unnata (कृदन्त; ud + √nam)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: 'elevated by virtues' / 'excellent in qualities'; Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifying rāmam

• a-yukta-cāraḥ: one who does not employ spies/ill-advised
• a-yukta-cāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a (नञ्) + yukta (कृदन्त; √yuj) + cāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: 'one whose conduct/espionage is not arranged'; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; addressing/characterizing the listener (Ravana)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• capalaḥ: fickle/impetuous
• capalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: capala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; further predicate/attribute

• mahā-indra-varuṇa-upamam: comparable to Indra and Varuna
• mahā-indra-varuṇa-upamam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahendra (प्रातिपदिक) + varuṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + upama (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Dvandva (itaretara) mahendra+varuṇa as comparison-base; upama = 'comparable to'; Masculine, Accusative, Singular qualifying rāmam

Context

After consulting all your ministers and the righteous persons led by Vibhisana, you may take a decision. Assess the real strength and weakness, merits and demerits of your own and of Rama. Decide what is good or bad for you and then take steps you deem proper.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Indra (Mahendra)
• Varuṇa

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma in governance requires clear discernment and truthful assessment of reality; a ruler should not act from fickleness or ignorance, but from informed judgment.

What is the narrative situation?

Mārīca warns Rāvaṇa that he misunderstands Rama’s true power and character, implying that reckless action against such a dhārmic hero will be ruinous.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s heroic strength and elevated virtue (guṇonnati) are highlighted, along with the implied virtue of prudent statecraft (knowing one’s opponent through proper counsel and intelligence).