Hari Om.
Let us begin the forty first sarga of the araNya kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
mAricha comprehensively warned rAvaNa against the misadventure he was embarking up on. It was going to be disastrous not only for both of them but for the entire clan of demons. He substantiated his points by drawing from his past bitter experiences in the hands of rAma, not once but twice! On both occasions he survived, as if let off by rAma intentionally while his accomplices paid through their lives. But rAvaNa would brook no advice. He upbraided mAricha for unsolicited advice. Further he reminded him how humbly the advice should be conveyed and not in an arrogant manner. While rAvaNa didn’t like the content of mAricha’s advice, he chose to overrule it by his hierarchy while pointing out the rash tone of the message! The ten-headed rAvaNa threatened mAricha that he might somehow survive rAma’s assault but was certain to die in his hands for this disobedience. mAricha was caught [3.40. ]Between a rock and a hard place!! Onwards…
Thus adversely commanded by rAvaNa, mAricha unhesitatingly and harshly responded thus –
“O demon, who is that sinful one who has advised you thus on the path of peril along with your kin, kingdom and council! Who is that mean person who is unhappy with your happiness and has sent you to the threshold of death through his advise? It is very clear that your enemies are powerless to defeat you and hence they have set you up against a greater power for your destruction. It is surely an evil minded one who has set you up thus desiring you to be vanquished by your own act! Those ministers who ought to advise you against embarking upon such a suicidal mission and have not done so deserve death penalty. A king taking to wrong ways by becoming a victim of lust needs to be checked and advised by his ministers, Why were you let free to do this?
The ministers derive their means, righteousness, prosperity and fame by the grace of their master. If it happens to the contrary, not only that all of this ceases but it is the common people who face the brunt of the perversions of their master!
र्ममर्थं च कामं च यशश्च जयतां वर।
स्वामिप्रसादात्सचिवाः प्राप्नुवन्ति निशाचर।।3.41.8।।
विपर्यये तु तत्सर्वं व्यर्थं भवति रावण।
व्यसनं स्वामिवैगुण्यात्प्राप्नुवन्तीतरे जनाः।।3.41.9।।
Victory and righteousness depend unconditionally on the king and therefore a king ought to be protected under all circumstances by his council. O nocturn a kingdom cannot be ruled through antagonism, arrogance and impolite ways. Your council of ministers who are advising you will drag you down on the path of destruction like the dull charioteer trying navigate his chariot slowly on a treacherous terrain.
There are many accomplished people in the world who perish along with their kin due to the indiscretions of others. Under a perverted king who is antagonistic to their welfare they perish like the herd of cattle looked after by a jackal!
Of course the clan of demons will perish, led by a crooked, mean and un-self-restrained king such as yourself.
बहवस्साधवो लोके युक्ता धर्ममनुष्ठिताः।
परेषामपराधेन विनष्टास्सपरिच्छदाः।।3.41.13।।
स्वामिना प्रतिकूलेन प्रजास्तीक्ष्णेन रावण।
रक्ष्यमाणा न वर्धन्ते मेषा गोमायुना यथा।।3.41.14।।
अवश्यं विनशिष्यन्ति सर्वे रावण राक्षसाः।
येषां त्वं कर्कशो राजा दुर्बुद्धिरजितेन्द्रियः।।3.41.15।।
It is incidental that I happened to be at the wrong end of your misadventure. You are sure to perish along with your army. Not long after killing me, rAma will kill you as well and I will accomplished when that happens! Considered me dead when I just behold rAma and consider yourself dead along with your kin upon the abduction of sItA!
If you indeed abduct sItA from the hermitage with my help, neither me nor you nor lanka nor the clan of rAkshasas will survive.
I, your well wisher have tried my best to desist you from this terrible misadventure but you pay no heed to my words. Those who are marked dead by the destiny and are counting their days do not heed the good advice of friends.
निवार्यमाणस्तु मया हितैषिणा न मृष्यसे वाक्यमिदं निशाचर।
परेतकल्पा हि गतायुषो नरा हितं न गृह्णन्ति सुहृद्भिरीरितम्।।3.41.20।।
Here we conclude the forty first sarga of the araNya kAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma.
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Next: 3.42. The scheme in action…
Previous: 3.40. Between a rock and a hard place!
rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 
