Summary
Ravana rebuts Maareecha for giving an unasked advice and details his plan to abduct Seetha. Ravana intimidates Maareecha that he himself will kill Maareecha immediately if his orders are disobeyed, and Maareecha may perhaps have no opportunity to die at the hands of Rama.
Chapter [Sarga] 40 in Detail
maariicasya tu tat vaakyam ksamam yuktam ca raavanah |
ukto na pratijagraaha martu kaama iva ausadham || 3-40-1
When Maareecha spoke those acceptable and equitable words, Ravana rejected them like a person with a death wish rejects medicament. [3-40-1]
tam pathya hita vaktaaram maariicam raaksasaadhipah |
abraviit parusam vaakyam ayuktam kaala coditah || 3-40-2
Ushered by the Terminator the king of demons Ravana, uncouthly spoke these unbefitting words to Maareecha who had been speaking conducive and beneficial words of advise. [3-40-2]
yat kila etat ayuktaartham maariica mayi kathyate |
vaakyam nisphalam atyartham biijam uptam iva uusare || 3-40-3
"All these meaningless words that are being said to me are decidedly worthless, in effect, like the seeds seeded in wastelands. [3-40-3]
tvat vaakyaih na tu maam shakyam - bhetum - bhettum raamasya sa.myuge |
paapa shiilasya muurkhasya maanusasya vishesatah || 3-40-4
"But it is impossible to scare me away from a war with that iniquitous and imprudent Rama, that too, from a human being, with these words of yours. [3-40-4]
yah tyaktvaa suhrido raajyam maataram pitaram tathaa |
strii vaakyam praakritam shrutvaa vanam eka pade gatah || 3-40-5
"He who bolted off to forest in a single-foot on hearing the artless words of a woman, forfeiting his kingdom, friends and relatives, and even his mother, likewise his father too, you cannot scare me away from such a Rama. [3-40-5]
avashyam tu mayaa tasya sa.myuge khara ghaatinah |
praanaih priyataraa siitaa hartavyaa tava sa.nnidhau || 3-40-6
"But his wife Seetha who is dearer to him more than his lives is certainly seizable by me in association with you, as that Rama had purposelessly killed Khara in a war. [3-40-6]
evam me nishcitaa buddhih hridi maariica vidyate |
na vyaavar.htayitum shakyaa sa indraih api sura asuraih || 3-40-7
"In this way my thinking is decided and it is lingering on in my heart, and it is impossible to roll back my mind or heart even for Indra coming along with gods and demons. [3-40-7]
dosam gunam vaa sa.mpristah tvam evam vaktum ar.hhasi |
apaayam vaa api upaayam vaa kaaryasya asya vinishcaye || 3-40-8
"If you are asked about the credits or discredits, or either of the danger or ideation of the deed for determining its modus operandi, it will be apt of you to talk like this, but I did not seek any viewpoints of yours. [3-40-8]
sampristena tu vaktavyam sacivena vipashcitaa |
udyata anjalinaa raajne ya icchet bhuutim aatmanah || 3-40-9
"Even if someone is asked, and if he desires his own welfare, then he has to submit his opinion to the king suppliantly upraising his palm-fold, may he be an intellectual, or an astute adviser. [3-40-9]
vaakyam apratikuulam tu mridu puurvam shubham hitam |
upacaarena yuktam ca vaktavyo vasudhaa adhipah || 3-40-10
"The king being lord of the land is to be addressed preceded with gentility, with auspicious and beneficial words that do not contradict the interests of that lord, more so, they shall be inclusive of etiquette. [3-40-10]
sa avamardam tu yat vaakyam athavaa maariica hitam ucyate |
na abhinandati tat raajaa maanaarthii maana varjitam || 3-40-11
"Or else, oh, Maareecha, even if a beneficial word is said, but if it is said with reprehension it will not gladden that king who insists upon honor, for that said word is dishonorable, let alone reprehension. [3-40-11]
panca ruupaani raajaano dhaarayanti amita ojasah |
agneh indrasya somasya yamasya varunasya ca || 3-40-12
"The kings with infinite vigor embody five constituents forces of Fire, Moon, Rain, Terminator, and that of Indra, the Administrator of Natural Forces. [3-40-12]
ausnyam tathaa vikramam ca saumyam dandam prasannataam |
dhaarayanti mahaataamno raajaanah kshanadaacara || 3-40-13
tasmaat sarvaasu avasthaasu maanyaah puujyaah ca paarthivaah |
"Oh, nightwalker, thus the kings being great-souls personify the sultriness of Fire, sternness of Indra, softness of Moon, suppleness of Rain, and harshness of Terminator, and therefore in all situations they are respectable and reverential. [3-40-13, 14a]
tvam tu dharmam avijnaaya kevalam moham aashritah || 3-40-14
abhyaagatam maam dauraat.hmyaat parusam vadasi iidrisham |
"But you are ill-advisedly babbling with me in this way, incognizant of rectitude and holding on to your obsession, and wishing ill of me, as I am on your doorstep. [3-40-14b, 15a]
guna dosau na pricchaami ksamam ca aatmani raaksasa || 3-40-15
mayaa uktam api ca etaavat tvaam prati amitavikrama |
"Oh, demon, I did not ask the rights and wrongs concerning me, nor that which is expedient for me, but oh, demon of untold bravery, I have said this much to you. [3-40-15]
asmin tu sa bhavaan kritye saahaayyam kartum arhasi || 3-40-16
shrunu tat karma saahaayye yat kaaryam vacanaat mama |
“‘It will be apt of you to proffer a helping hand in this deed.' This much I said to you. And such as you are you may now listen to that task which you have to undertake during the course of your assistance as I detail it to you. [3-40-16]
sauvarnah tvam mrigo bhuutvaa citro rajata bindubhih || 3-40-17
aashrame tasya raamasya siitaayaah pramukhe cara |
pralobhayitvaa vaidehiim yathaa istam gantum ar.hhasi || 3-40-18
"On becoming an amazing silver-potted golden deer you move in front of Seetha in the hermitage of Rama, and on verily alluring Vaidehi you can go away as you like. [3-40-17, 18]
tvaam hi maayaa mayam dristvaa kaa.ncanam jaata vismayaa |
aanaya enam iti ksipram raamam vaksyati maithilii || 3-40-19
"On seeing you as a wholly illusory golden deer curiosity arises in Vaidehi, and indeed she tells Rama, 'bring that one quickly.' [3-40-19]
apakraante ca kaakutsthe duuram ca yaatvaa api udaahara |
haa siite lakshmane iti evam raama vaakya anuruupakam || 3-40-20
"Further, on Rama's coming out of his hermitage you go distantly and blurt out in this way, 'ha Seetha' and even as, 'ha, Lakshmana,' mimicking Rama's voice. [3-40-20]
tat shrutvaa raama padaviim siitaayaa ca pracoditah |
anugacchati sambhraa.ntam saumitrih api sauhridaat || 3-40-21
"On hearing that, and further hastened by Seetha, even Saumitri apprehensively follows the path of Rama in all his fondness for Rama. [3-40-21]
apakraante ca kaakutsthe lakshmana ca yathaa sukham |
aaharisyaami vaidehiim sahasraaksah shaciim iva || 3-40-22
"When Rama is diverted from hermitage, Lakshmana as well, I will carry off Vaidehi effortlessly like the Thousand-eyed Indra who once carried off Sachi Devi. [3-40-22]
evam kritvaa tu idam kaaryam yathaa istam gaccha raaksasa |
raajyasya ardham pradaasyaami maariica tava suvrata || 3-40-23
"Oh, demon, on carrying out this stint in this manner you may go as you like, and to you oh, Maareecha with solemn vows, I will grant half of my kingdom. [3-40-23]
gaccha saumya shivam maargam kaaryasya asya vivriddhaye |
aham tu anugamisyaami sa ratho dandakaa vanam || 3-40-24
"Hence, oh, gentle one, get going on a trouble-free path for the easy achievement of the task, and I for myself will follow you to Dandaka forest along with the chariot. [3-40-24]
praapya siitaam ayuddhena va.ncayitvaa tu raaghavam |
la.nkaam prati gamisyaami krita kaaryah saha tvayaa || 3-40-25
"My goal will be achieved just by misleading Raghava, and by gaining Seetha without a conflict, and then I will proceed to Lanka along with you. [3-40-25]
no cet karosi maariica hanmi tvaam aham adya vai |
etat kaaryam avashyam me balaad api karisyasi |
raajno hi pratikuulastho na jaatu sukham edhate || 3-40-26
"If you are not going to do so, oh, Maareecha, for sure I will kill you now itself. I will get my work done through you even under duress, and indeed, any subject setting against his king will never succeed safely. [3-40-26]
aasaadyaa tam jiivita samshayah te
mrityur dhruvo hi adya mayaa virudhyatah |
etat yathaavat parigrihya buddhyaa
yat atra pathyam kuru tat tathaa tvam || 3-40-27
"Your life may be indefinite on reaching Rama, but your death is surely definite now as you are conflicting with me. Hence, keeping all this in view you come to a conclusion that would be conducive to your interests, and whatever desirable to you let it be done in that way. “Thus Ravana spoke to Maareecha. [3-40-27]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye aranya kaande catvaari.mshah sargah
Thus, this is the 40th chapter in Aranya Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate