“Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama”
Valmiki Ramayana – Aranya Kanda – Chapter 41
Maareecha Further Advises Ravana
Summary
Maareecha dissuades Ravana again and warns him of the fatal consequences if Rama is
irked by the wrongdoings of Ravana. In every utterance, Maareecha repeats that not only Ravana
but the entire demonic race is also going to ruin due to Ravana's impertinence. Finally when
Ravana is heedless of these advises, Maareecha prepares himself to die by the arrow of an
enemy, namely Rama, rather than by his own clansman, Ravana.
Chapter [Sarga] 41 in Detail
aajnapto raavanena ittham pratikuulam ca raajavat |
abraviit parusam vaakyam nihshanko raaksasaadhipam || 3-41-1
When Ravana perversely ordered that way in all his kingliness, Maareecha spoke these
words caustically and frankly to that king of demons. [3-41-1]
kena ayam upadistah te vinaashah paapa karmanaa |
sa putrasya sa raajyasya sa amaatyasya nishaacara || 3-41-2
"Oh, night-walker, by which evildoer this thought, which is self-ruinous to you, along with
your progeny, kingdom and ministers put together, is taught to you? [3-41-2]
kah tvayaa sukhinaa raajan na abhinandati paapakrit |
kena idam upadistam te mrityu dvaaram upaayatah || 3-41-3
"Who is that reprobate unhappy with such a happy one like you, and oh, king, by whom
this door of demise is ingeniously shown to you? [3-41-3]
shatravah tava suvyaktam hiina viiryaa nishaa cara |
icchanti tvaam vinashyantam uparuddham baliiyasaa || 3-41-4
"It is very clear, oh, night-walker, that your rivals with skimpy might are aspiring that you
should be completely ruined coming into conflict with more mighty Rama. [3-41-4]
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“Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama”
Valmiki Ramayana – Aranya Kanda – Chapter 41
kena idam upadistam te ksudrena ahita buddhinaa |
yah tvaam icchati nashyantam sva kritena nishaacara || 3-41-5
"He who wishes you to get ruined by your undertaking a self-made destruction is a
scoundrel with a pernicious intent, as such, by whom you are counseled to do this? [3-41-5]
vadhyaah khalu na vadhyante sacivaah tava raavana |
ye tvaam utpatham aaruudham na nigrihnanti sarvashah || 3-41-6
"Your ministers are not curbing you anywise when you scramble on a high road to selfruination, hence they are indeed to be sentenced to death, but they are not being executed for
their dereliction. [3-41-6]
amaatyaih kaama vritto hi raajaa kaapatham aashritah |
nigraahyah sarvathaa sadbhih na nigraahyo nigrihyase || 3-41-7
"Veracious ministers have to restrain a self-willed king when he relies on a wrong-route,
isn't it. But you are unrestrained by your ministers though you are self-willed and though you are
taking a wrong-route. [3-41-7]
dharmam artham ca kaamam ca yashah ca jayataam vara |
svaami prasaadaat sacivaah praapnuvanti nishaacara || 3-41-8
"Oh, best conqueror Ravana, probity, prosperity and pleasures, and even the popularity
of the ministers, oh, night-walker, are achieved at the beneficence of their master. [3-41-8]
viparyaye tu tat sarvam vyartham bhavati raavana |
vyasanam svaami vaigunyaat praapnuvanti itare janaah || 3-41-9
"Contrariwise, oh, Ravana, all that beneficence of the king to ministers becomes futile
when the king behaves perversely, and even the others, namely the subjects of kingdom, will
derive distress by the negative virtue of their master. [3-41-9]
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“Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama”
Valmiki Ramayana – Aranya Kanda – Chapter 41
raaja muulo hi dharmah ca jayah ca jayataam vara |
tasmaat sarvaasu avasthaasu raksitavyo naraadhipaah || 3-41-10
"The king alone is the root cause for probity and prosperity, isn't it. Therefore, oh, best
prosperous one, in all situations the kings are to be safeguarded from the ill effects of influences.
[3-41-10]
raajyam paalayitum shakyam na tiiksnena nishaacara |
na ca api pratikuulena na aviniitena raaksasa || 3-41-11
"It is impossible to govern kingdom, oh, demon, the night-walker, for a king with acridity,
with hostility, or with immorality. [3-41-11]
ye tiiksna ma.ntraah sacivaa bhajyante saha tena vai |
visame turagaah shiighraa manda saarathayo yathaa || 3-41-12
"The ministers with drastic notions will indeed fall apart together with their king, like a
chariot that gets ramshackle [appearing ready to collapse] together with it charioteer on a rough
road, though it is hieing [to go fast] with galloping horses but badly controlled by that slothful
charioteer. [3-41-12]
bahavah saadhavo loke yukta dharmam anusthitaah |
paresaam aparaadhena vinastaah sa paricchadaah || 3-41-13
"In the world many saintly beings that are high-minded and pursuers of ethicality are
completely ruined together with their kinsmen owing to the misdeeds of others. [3-41-13]
svaaminaa pratikuulena prajaah tiiksnena raavana |
raksyamaanaa na vardhante mesaa gomaayunaa yathaa || 3-41-14
"Oh, Ravana, the subjects do not flourish while a lord with contrariety and coerciveness
safeguards them, just like goats guarded by a fox. [3-41-14]
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“Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama”
Valmiki Ramayana – Aranya Kanda – Chapter 41
avashyam vinashisyanti sarve raavana raaksasaah |
yesaam tvam karkasho raajaa dur.hbuddhih ajita indriyah || 3-41-15
"All those demons will definitely ruin, oh, Ravana, to whom you are the acrimonious and
malicious king with unconquered senses, though you have conquered the heaven. [3-41-15]
tad idam kaaka taaliiyam ghoram aasaaditam mayaa |
atra tvam shocaniiyo asi sa sainyo vinashisyasi || 3-41-16
"What is the use of laming for myself as I foregathered this ghastly situation as in crowpalm-tree syndrome, but in this issue you alone are regrettable, for you are gong to completely
ruin along with your military. [3-41-16]
maam nihatya tu raamo asau aciraat tvaam vadhisyati |
anena krita krityo asmi mriye ca api arinaa hatah || 3-41-17
"That Rama will soon kill you after killing me, and I will be dying at the hand of my enemy
rather than at the hand of my own clansman like you, whereby the purpose of my life will be
brought to an end. [3-41-17]
darshanaat eva raamasya hatam maam avadhaaraya |
aatmaanam ca hatam viddhi hritvaa siitaam sa baandhavam || 3-41-18
"Know that I am killed just when Rama notices me, and know that you are also killed
along with your kinsmen just when you steal Seetha. [3-41-18]
aanayisyasi cet siitaam aashramaat sahito mayaa |
na eva tvam asi na eva aham na eva la.nkaa na raaksasaah || 3-41-19
"If you are going to bring Seetha from their hermitage on going there with me, then you
will not be there, I will not be there, Lanka will not be there, and the demons will not be there. [341-19]
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“Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama”
Valmiki Ramayana – Aranya Kanda – Chapter 41
nivaaryamaanah tu mayaa hita esinaa
na mrisyase vaakyam idam nishaacara |
pareta kalpaa hi gata aayuso naraa
hitam na grihnanti suhridbhih iiritam || 3-41-20
"As a desirer of your welfare I am dissuading you, oh, night-walker, but you may feel that
this word of mine is unpleasant to you. People on diminishing lifetime will be similar to corpses
and a corpse cannot take in the expedient spoken by considerate confidants, isn't so. [3-41-20]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye aranya kaande eka catvaarimshah sargah
Thus, this is the 41st chapter in Aranya Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate
References
Desiraju Hanumanta Rao. (1998). Aranya Kanda - Forest track.
Merriam-Webster. (2007). At http://www.m-w.com.
Reference.com. (2007). At http://www.reference.com.
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