August 14 - Sargas 36 and 37 of Aranya Kanda.
Ravana explains to Mareecha what is his urgent mission. Mareecha is aghast at the very idea and strongly dissuades Ravana.
***
Ravana says in a begging voice, "Oh Mareecha sir, I am in a desperate situation and only you can help me.
"You know how I had deployed a very strong rakshasa army under Khara and Dushana in Janasthana. They were, on my orders, fully engaged in tormenting, harassing and killing all the ascetics there.
"Then this rascal called Rama came to the forest. He was expelled by his father King Dasharatha for bad conduct.
"This mere human, without saying anything, without as much as a "by your leave", killed Khara, Dushana, and Trishiras and fourteen thousand warriors. He did this standing on the ground and was alone with his bow and arrow.
"This Rama is unprincipled, untruthful and a blot on humanity. Do you know he has disfigured my dear sister Shurpanakha?
"Rama has a wife called Sita whom he loves very much. He is served by his brother Lakshmana in the forest.
"It is my desire to teach this Rama a lesson. I want to abduct his wife and plunge this Rama into depression. He will then be weak enough for me to kill him easily.
" I don't want to bother my brothers or army chiefs in this matter. I only trust you, Mareecha sir. You are invincible and full of magical powers.
" Here is the plan. You take the form of a golden deer with silver spots and go tempt Sita. She will send away Rama and Lakshmana in pursuit after you. As you draw them far away, the coast will be clear for me to abduct Sita.
" How do you like this brilliant plan of mine!? Mareecha, please do this much for me."
***
Mareecha's jaw fell to hear this atrocious plan of Ravana. It had evil and failure written all over it.
***
Mareecha chose his words carefully, but was carried away by the emotion he felt about the whole thing.
सुलभाः पुरुषा राजन् सततं प्रियवादिनः ।
अप्रियस्य च पथ्यस्य वक्ता श्रोता च दुर्लभः ॥
"Oh King, it is easy to surround yourself with sycophants who only speak "feel-good" words and praise you. Indeed it is rare to find those who speak or listen to words of good intention and good advice when the words are unpleasant. "
त्वद्विधः कामवृत्तो हि दुःशीलः पापमन्त्रितः ।
आत्मानं स्वजनं राष्ट्रं स राजा हन्ति दुर्मतिः ॥
" This evil plan you suggest, born out of lust, is truly unholy, but is very much in your character. It is a plan from a king who will destroy himself, his people, and his country, all in one go."
"Whatever you have said about Rama is totally untrue. Neither was he banished by his father nor is he evil. In fact Dasharatha succumbed to the designs of his wife Kaikeyi. Rama bailed him out and went away to the forest.
रामो विग्रहवान् धर्मः साधुः सत्यपराक्रमः ।
राजा सर्वस्य लोकस्य देवानामिव वासवः ॥
"Rama is the embodiment of Dharma. His might is rooted in truthfulness and goodness. He is a peaceable man. He is naturally endowed to be the ruler of the entire world and all its people, just as Indra is the ruler of the gods.
" You will never be able to steal his wife Sita when she is under the protection of Rama's bow in the forest. She is to Rama like the flames that belong to a sacrificial fire.
" If you want to avert certain death, if you care for your life, your people, or your kingship, go and sit down with Vibhishana and your well-wishers and think over this matter."
अहं तु मन्ये तव न क्षमं रणे
समागमं कोसलराजसूनुना ।
इदं हि भूयः श्रृणु वाक्यमुत्तमं
क्षमं च युक्तं च निशाचराधिप ॥
" I think you will not be able to face Rama in a battle. Therefore carefully listen once more my advice which is proper and meant for your welfare alone, oh King of rakshasas!"
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
