Rāmāyana | Āraṇya Kaṇḍa | Chapter 41
41. Rāvaṇa's Proposal to Mārīcha
[Mārīcha says that he would prefer to be killed by the enemy than by Rāvaṇa and agrees to Rāvaṇa's proposal.]
When that Rākṣasa heard this unfavourable order of the king, that Mārīcha told these harsh words to the king of Rākṣasas. 41.1
"Oh Rākṣasa, who has advised you to do this sinful action which would lead to your destruction along with all your sons, all your kingdoms and all your ministers?" 41.2
"Who is that sinner who cannot tolerate, you being happy? BY whose advice have you been taken to the gates of death?" 41.3
"It is clear that some Rākṣasa who lacks valour desires your destruction and wants you to be obstructed by a stronger power." 41.4
"Oh Rākṣasa, which debased person who is not interested in your welfare has given you this advice, Which will lead you to your self-destruction." 41.5
"Oh Rāvaṇa, all your ministers who did not prevent you from taking this wrong path should be put to death." 41.6
"When a king is passionate by nature and travels in that chosen path, the ministers should have resisted him. Why were you not forbidden from doing forbidden tasks by the good people?" 41.7
"Oh Rākṣasa, Oh greatest among the victorious, the ministers attain Dharma, desires, wealth and fame due to the grace of their Lord who is the king." 41.8
"Oh Rāvaṇa, if this does not take place everything would become useless and due to the bad trait of the king calamities would result." 41.9
"Oh best among victorious, king is the root of Dharma and victory and so a king need to be protected at all costs at every stage." 41.10
"Oh king, Oh Rākṣasa, a very sharp one, one with hostility and one who has humility cannot rule the kingdom properly." 41.11
"Those ministers who adopt wrong strategies are quickly overthrown along with the king, like a speedy horses driven by a slow charioteer on a rough path." 41.12
"In this world, even those pious people, who do their duty properly are ruined along with their kith and kin by mistakes committed by others." 41.13
"Citizens who are ruled by a king who is cruel as well as un-favourable, would not prosper like the goats protected by the jackal." 41.14
"Oh Rāvaṇa, all those Rākṣasas ruled by you, who is cruel, evil minded and slave to passion would definitely perish." 41.15
"Due to you, I am facing the dreadful death for no real reason at all, but who will repent for you when you and your army would be destroyed." 41.16
"Not long after killing me, Rāma will kill you too. Though I will be dying in the hands of enemy, I would have accomplished my desire." 41.17
"Be assured that, just by Rāma's looks, I would be killed and on the abduction of Sītā, please understand that you along your kith and kin would also be killed." 41.18
"Suppose you are able to get out Sītā with my help, be assured that you, me, kingdom of Lanka as well as the Rākṣasas would no more be there." 41.19
"Please heed this warning from me who is your well-wisher and Oh Rākṣasa, if you do not heed my words remember that those who do not heed the advice of well-meaning friends would be almost dead and will have a short life span." 41.20
This is the end of Forty First Sarga of Āraṇya Kanda which occurs in Holy Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki as the First Epic.