Introduction
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.
Verse 1
आज्ञप्तो रावणेन इत्थम् प्रतिकूलम् च राजवत् |
अब्रवीत् परुषम् वाक्यम् निःशन्को राक्षसाधिपम् || ३-४१-१
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]
1. raavaNena ittham = by Ravana, in this way; pratikuulam = contrarily – perversely; raajavat ca = as a king, also; aaaptaH = who is ordered; [maariicaH = Maareecha]; raakSasa adhipam = to demon’s, king; paruSam vaakyam = caustic, words; niH shankaH = frankly abraviit = spoke.
Verse 2
केन अयम् उपदिष्टः ते विनाशः पाप कर्मणा |
स पुत्रस्य स राज्यस्य स अमात्यस्य निशाचर || ३-४१-२
“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]
2. nishaacara = oh, night-walker; sa putrasya sa raajyasya sa amaatyasya = with, progeny, with, kingdom, with, ministers – along with them; te = your; ayam vinaashaH = this, ruin – this self-ruinous thought; kena paapa karmaNaa = by which, evil, doer; upadiSTaH = taught.
Verse 3
कः त्वया सुखिना राजन् न अभिनन्दति पापकृत् |
केन इदम् उपदिष्टम् ते मृत्यु द्वारम् उपायतः || ३-४१-३
“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]
3. raajan = oh, king; kaH paapa kR^it = which, sin, who has done – reprobate; sukhinaa = a happy one – you are; tvayaa na abhinandati = with you, not, happy – intolerant; mR^ityu dvaaram = demise, door of; idam = this – deed; kena upaayataH = by whom, by ideation – ingeniously; te upadiSTam = , to you, is taught [shown – door of death.]
Verse 4
शत्रवः तव सुव्यक्तम् हीन वीर्या निशा चर |
इच्छन्ति त्वाम् विनश्यन्तम् उपरुद्धम् बलीयसा || ३-४१-४
“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]
4. nishaa cara = oh, night-walker; tava shatravaH = your, rivals; hiina viiryaa = of skimpy, strength; tvaam = you; baliiyasaa = with a mighty one – more mighty Rama; upa ruddham = as one coming into, conflict; vi nashyantam = completely, getting ruined; icChanti = they are aspiring for; su vyaktam = it is very, clear.
Verse 5
केन इदम् उपदिष्टम् ते क्षुद्रेण अहित बुद्धिना |
यः त्वाम् इच्छति नश्यन्तम् स्व कृतेन निशाचर || ३-४१-५
“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 counselled to do this? [3-41-5]
5. nishaacara = oh, night-walker; yaH = he who; tvaam = you; sva kR^itena = self, made – self-ruinous, suicidal deed; nashyantam = getting ruined; icChati = wishes to; by such; kSudreNa = by that – scoundrel; a hita buddhinaa = not, helpful, intent -with a pernicious intent; kena idam te upadiSTam = by whom, this, to you, is counselled.
Verse 6
वध्याः खलु न वध्यन्ते सचिवाः तव रावण |
ये त्वाम् उत्पथम् आरूढम् न निगृह्णन्ति सर्वशः || ३-४१-६
“Your ministers are not curbing you anywise when you scramble on a high road to self-ruination, hence they are indeed to be sentenced to death, but they are not being executed for their dereliction. [3-41-6]
6. raavaNa = oh, Ravana; ut patham = on high, road [to self-ruination]; aaruuDham = one who mounted on; tvaam = you; ye = those; sarvashaH = anywise; na nigR^ihNanti = not, reining in; such of those; tava sacivaaH = your, ministers; vadhyaaH khalu = are killable [eligible for death sentence,] indeed; but they are; na vadhyante = not, being killed – not being sentenced to death.
Verse 7
अमात्यैः काम वृत्तो हि राजा कापथम् आश्रितः |
निग्राह्यः सर्वथा सद्भिः न निग्राह्यो निगृह्यसे || ३-४१-७
“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]
7. kaama vR^ittaH = self, willed [or, lewdly, behaving]; kaa patham [ku patham] aashritaH raajaa = wrong, route, who relies on, that king; sadbhiH amaatyaiH sarvathaa nigraahyaH hi = by veracious, by ministers, always, restrainable, isn’t it; nigraahyaH = restrainable [such as you are you are]; na nigR^ihyase = not, being restrained.
Verse 8
धर्मम् अर्थम् च कामम् च यशः च जयताम् वर |
स्वामि प्रसादात् सचिवाः प्राप्नुवन्ति निशाचर || ३-४१-८
“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]
8. jayataam vara = oh, among conquerors, the best – Ravana; nishaacara = oh, night-walker; sacivaaH = ministers; dharmam artham ca kaamam ca = probity, prosperity, also, pleasures, also; yashaH ca popularity, even; svaami prasaadaat praapnuvanti = master, by beneficence, they acquire.
Verse 9
विपर्यये तु तत् सर्वम् व्यर्थम् भवति रावण |
व्यसनम् स्वामि वैगुण्यात् प्राप्नुवन्ति इतरे जनाः || ३-४१-९
“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]
9. raavaNa = oh, Ravana; vi paryaye = contrary, wise – when the king is perverse; tat sarvam vyartham bhavati = that, all, futile, it becomes; svaami vai guNyaat = by master’s, negative, virtue; itare janaaH vyasanam praapnuvanti = other, subjects of kingdom, distress, they derive.
Verse 10
राज मूलो हि धर्मः च जयः च जयताम् वर |
तस्मात् सर्वासु अवस्थासु रक्षितव्यो नराधिपाः || ३-४१-१०
“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]
10. jayataam vara = oh, among the successful[prosperous,] ones, best one; dharmaH ca jayaH ca = for probity, also, for victory [success, prosperity,] alone; raaja muulaH hi = king, is the root cause, isn’t it; tasmaat sarvaasu avasthaasu = therefore, in all, situations; nara adhipaaH = people’s, cheifs – kings; rakSitavyaH = are to be safeguarded – from the ill-effects of influences.
Verse 11
राज्यम् पालयितुम् शक्यम् न तीक्ष्णेन निशाचर |
न च अपि प्रतिकूलेन न अविनीतेन राक्षस || ३-४१-११
“It is impossible to govern kingdom, oh, demon, the night-walker, for a king with acridity, with hostility, or with immorality. [3-41-11]
11. raakSasa = oh, demon; nishaacara = oh, nigh, walker; tiikSNena = by one with acridity – perilous king; raajyam paalayitum na shakyam = kingdom, to govern, not, possible; prati kuulena = one with hostility; na = not – possible; a vi niitena = not, without, ethics – one with immorality; na ca api = not, also, even.
Verse 12
ये तीक्ष्ण मंत्राः सचिवा भज्यन्ते सह तेन वै |
विषमे तुरगाः शीघ्रा मन्द सारथयो यथा || ३-४१-१२
“The ministers with drastic notions will indeed fall apart together with their king, like a chariot that gets ramshackled together with it charioteer on a rough road, though it is hieing with galloping horses but badly controlled by that slothful charioteer. [3-41-12]
12. ye sacivaaH = those, ministers; tiikSNa mantraaH = are with drastic, notions; manda saarathayaH = which has a slowish, charioteer; shiighraa turagaaH having speedy, horses; viSame = on a rough road; [rathaa = chariot]; yathaa = as with; tena saha bhajyante vai = him [their king/charioteer,] with, will get dilapidated, indeed.
Verse 13
बहवः साधवो लोके युक्त धर्मम् अनुष्ठिताः |
परेषाम् अपराधेन विनष्टाः स परिच्छदाः || ३-४१-१३
“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]
13. loke = in world; yuktaaH = high-minded people; dharmam anuSThitaaH = ethicality, pursuers of; bahavaH saadhavaH = many, saintly people; pareSaam aparaadhena = by other’s, misdeeds; sa paricChadaaH = with, kinsmen; vi naSTaaH = completely, ruined.
Verse 14
स्वामिना प्रतिकूलेन प्रजाः तीक्ष्णेन रावण |
रक्ष्यमाणा न वर्धन्ते मेषा गोमायुना यथा || ३-४१-१४
“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]
14. raavaNa = oh, Ravana; pratikuulena tiikSNena svaaminaa = one with contrariety, a coercive one, by such a lord; rakSyamaaNaaH prajaaH = being safeguarded, subjects; gomaayunaa meSaa yathaa = by fox, goats, as with; na vardhante = will not, flourish.
Verse 15
अवश्यम् विनशिष्यन्ति सर्वे रावण राक्षसाः |
येषाम् त्वम् कर्कशो राजा दुर्बुद्धिः अजित इन्द्रियः || ३-४१-१५
“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]
15. raavaNa = oh, Ravana; yeSaam = to whom; karkashaH = acrimonious; dur buddhiH = evil, minded [malicious]; a jita indriyaH = not, conquered, senses – not above board; such as you; tvam raajaa = you are, king; [te = those]; sarve raakSasaaH = all, demons; avashyam vinashiSyanti = definitely, will completely ruin.
Verse 16
तद् इदम् काक तालीयम् घोरम् आसादितम् मया |
अत्र त्वम् शोचनीयो असि स सैन्यो विनशिष्यसि || ३-४१-१६
“What is the use of laming for myself as I foregathered this ghastly situation as in crow-palm-tree syndrome, but in this issue you alone are regrettable, for you are gong to completely ruin along with your military. [3-41-16]
16. mayaa = by me; kaaka taaliiyam = as in crow, palm tree syndrome; ghoram = ghastly – fortune; tat idam = that, this – predicament; aasaaditam = forgathered; atra = in this issue; [kim = what, what is the use of lamenting]; tvam shocaniiyaH asi = you, regrettable, you are; sa sainyaH vi nashiSyasi = with, military, completely, you ruin.
Verse 17
माम् निहत्य तु रामो असौ अचिरात् त्वाम् वधिष्यति |
अनेन कृत कृत्यो अस्मि म्रिये च अपि अरिणा हतः || ३-४१-१७
“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]
17. asau raamaH = that, Rama; maam nihatya tu = me, on killing, on his part; a ciraat tvaam vadhiSyati = not, long after [soon,] you, he kills; ariNaa hataH mriye ca api = by enemy, killed, I die, also, even; anena = by that; kR^ita kR^ityaH asmi = means [of my life,] fulfilled, I will be.
Verse 18
दर्शनात् एव रामस्य हतम् माम् अवधारय |
आत्मानम् च हतम् विद्धि हृत्वा सीताम् स बान्धवम् || ३-४१-१८
“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]
18. raamasya darshanaat eva = of Rama, on seeing, alone; maam hatam avadhaaraya = me, killed, know thus; siitaam hR^itvaa = Seetha, on stealing; sa baandhavam = with, kinsmen; aatmaanam ca = yourself, also; hatam viddhi = as killed, you know thus.
Verse 19
आनयिष्यसि चेत् सीताम् आश्रमात् सहितो मया |
न एव त्वम् असि न एव अहम् न एव लंका न राक्षसाः || ३-४१-१९
“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, the demons will not be there. [3-41-19]
19. mayaa sahitaH = me, together with; aashramaat = from hermitage; siitaam aanayiSyasi cet = Seetha, is brought, if; tvam na eva asi = you, not, that way, you will be there dead; aham eva na = I am, also, not – there; lankaa na eva = Lanka, is not there, thus; raakSasaaH na = demons, are not there;
Verse 20
निवार्यमाणः तु मया हित एषिणा
न मृष्यसे वाक्यम् इदम् निशाचर |
परेत कल्पा हि गत आयुषो नरा
हितम् न गृह्णन्ति सुहृद्भिः ईरितम् || ३-४१-२०
“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]
20. nishaacara = oh, night-walker; hita eSiNaa = welfare, desirer; mayaa = by me; nivaaryamaaNaH tu = you are being dissuaded, but; idam vaakyam = this, word – of advice; na mR^iSyase = not, feeling pleasant; gata aayuSaH = those with diminished, lifetime; pareta kalpaa naraaH = corpse, similar to, people; su hR^idbhiH iiritam = by good, hearted ones [considerate confidants,] spoken; hitam na gR^ihNanti hi = expedient, not, take in, isn’t so.
