August 16 - Sargas 40 and 41 of Aranya Kanda.
Ravana shows his extreme displeasure at Mareecha's unsolicited advice. He says Mareecha has no choice but to help him in his scheme by assuming the form of a golden deer and leading Rama and Lakshmana away from Sita. If Mareecha does not obey his order, Ravana will kill him instantly.
Mareecha sees the writing on the wall. But he again says harsh but well-meant words to Ravana as the course Ravana is hell-bent on will kill both of them without a doubt.
***
We have a very good example here of a man good at debate but poor in the judgement of what is good for himself or others.
Ravana replies to Mareecha's advice:
"Oh Mareecha, your "wise words" are wasted like seeds sown in a barren land. I have not come to you for advice. I need your help and I am ordering you. It seems you do not know how to respect a king or what kind of advice is correct.
"This man you praise so much is a fool and a coward. He listened to a lowly woman's words and abandoned the king, his father, his mother, his well-wishers, and his kingdom, and ran away to the forest.
अवश्यन्तु मया तस्य संयुगे खरघातिनः ।
प्राणैः प्रियतरा सीता हर्तव्या तव संनिधौ ॥
सम्पृष्टेन तु वक्तव्यं सचिवेन विपश्चिता ।
उद्यताञ्जलिना राज्ञो य इच्छेद् भूतिमात्मनः ॥
"It is most essential that this Rama's - the one who killed Khara in battle- Rama's beloved wife Sita, who is dearer to him than life itself, is abducted by me with your help.
"You should know that a wise counsellor will open his mouth only when asked to speak and that too to speak most deferentially to his king if at all the counsellor cares for his own welfare."
अपक्रान्ते च काकुत्स्थे दूरं गत्वाप्युदाहर ।
हा सीते मक्ष्मणेत्येवं रामवाक्यानुरूपकम् ॥
"Draw Rama way from the hermitage by assuming the form of a golden deer with silver spots that Sita will hanker after. Take him far away. Then scream in a voice similar to his, "Ha Sita! Ha Lakshmana!"
"It is certain that Lakshmana with his devotion to Rama and on the insistence of Sita will also leave her side and rush in the direction of this distressed call. The coast will be clear for me then to easily carry off Sita."
आसाद्य तं जीवितसंशयस्ते
मृत्युर्ध्रुवो ह्यद्य मया विरुध्यतः ।
एतद् यथावत् परिगण्य बुद्ध्या
यदत्र पथ्यं कुरु तत्तथा त्वम् ॥
"Oh Mareecha, if you are fearing that you will die at Rama's hands by obeying my order, know for certain that I will kill you this instant if you disobey me. Therefore apply your mind and do what you think is right for you."
***
Mareecha was certain that the course pursued by Ravana was disastrous. He knew that fate had drawn him also into this terrible enterprise. He did not hesitate to express his advice again to Ravana.
"Oh Ravana, who is that sinner who has instigated you thus? Perhaps it is other rakshasas who have found a way to get rid of you by putting you up against a much stronger enemy. Honest and wise ministers think deeply of the welfare of their king and advise suitably so that the state prospers and they in turn prosper. Those who lead the king astray will perish. An evil or inconsiderate king brings down everyone. Alas, even good people, for no fault of their own, suffer under a bad king."
दर्शनादेव रामस्य हतं मामवधारय ।
आत्मानं च हतं विद्धि हृत्वा सीतां सबान्धवम् ॥
"Oh Ravana, know for certain that I shall die the moment I set eyes on Rama. And know again for certain that you will also die very soon after along with all your people, in case you abduct Sita."
Mareecha's words made no impression at all on Ravana, just as a man about to die resists any medicine.
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
