Chapter 40

Aranya Kanda - Book Of Forest

VERSE 1

मारीचस्य तु तत् वाक्यम् क्षमम् युक्तम् च रावणः
उक्तो न प्रतिजग्राह मर्तु काम इव औषधम्

mārīcasya tu tat vākyam kṣamam yuktam ca rāvaṇaḥ
ukto na pratijagrāha martu kāma iva auṣadham

SYNONYMS

uktaḥ rāvaṇaḥ: he who is spoken thus, Ravana | mārīcasya tu kṣamam yuktam ca: Maareecha's, but, acceptable, equitable, also | tat vākyam: that, sentence | martu kāma auṣadham iva: to die, one desiring to, medicament, as with | na pratijagrāha = not, received: Ravana rejected. |

TRANSLATION

When Maareecha spoke those acceptable and equitable words, Ravana rejected them like a person with a death wish rejects medicament. [3-40-1]

VERSE 2

तम् पथ्य हित वक्तारम् मारीचम् राक्षसाधिपः
अब्रवीत् परुषम् वाक्यम् अयुक्तम् काल चोदितः

tam pathya hita vaktāram mārīcam rākṣasādhipaḥ
abravīt paruṣam vākyam ayuktam kāla coditaḥ

SYNONYMS

rākṣasa adhipaḥ: demons, king | kāla coditaḥ: by Time [the Terminator,] ushered | pathya hita vaktāram = doing gūd: conducive, beneficial, who is speaking | tam mārīcam: to him, to that Maareecha | a yuktam: unbefitting | paruṣam vākyam abravīt: uncouthly, words, spoke. |

TRANSLATION

Ushered by the Terminator the king of demons Ravana, uncouthly spoke these unbefitting words to Maareecha who had been speaking conducive and beneficial words of advise. [3-40-2]

VERSE 3

यत् किल एतत् अयुक्तार्थम् मारीच मयि कथ्यते
वाक्यम् निष्फलम् अत्यर्थम् बीजम् उप्तम् इव ऊषरे

yat kila etat ayuktārtham mārīca mayi kathyate
vākyam niṣphalam atyartham bījam uptam iva ūṣare

SYNONYMS

mārīca: oh, Maareecha | a yukta artham = vithout, having, meaning: meaningless words | yat: that which | etat vākyam = all these, sentence: advisory words | mayi: in me [to me] | kathyate: being said | ūṣare uptam bījam iva: in wasteland, seeded, seed, like | ati artham = very, muc: decidedly | niṣ phalam = vithout, fruit: worthless | kila: in effect. |

TRANSLATION

"All these meaningless words that are being said to me are decidedly worthless, in effect, like the seeds seeded in wastelands. [3-40-3]

VERSE 4

त्वत् वाक्यैः न तु माम् शक्यम् भेतुम् भेत्तुम् रामस्य संयुगे
पाप शीलस्य मूर्खस्य मानुषस्य विशेषतः

tvat vākyaiḥ na tu mām śakyam - bhetum - bhettum rāmasya saṃyuge
pāpa śīlasya mūrkhasya mānuṣasya viśeṣataḥ

SYNONYMS

tvat vākyaiḥ: by your, words | pāpa śīlasya = evil, in caracter: an iniquitous one | mūrkhasya: imprudent one | viśeṣataḥ mānuṣasya: especially, human | rāmasya: from such a Rama | mām samyuge bhetum [bhettum]: me, from a war, to scare | na śakyam: not, possible. |

TRANSLATION

"But it is impossible to scare me away from a war with that iniquitous and imprudent Rama, that too, from a human being, with these words of yours. [3-40-4]

PURPORT

There is a grammarian's irk in bhettum ' to cut off, to destroy' bhetum 'to scare me' and if bhettum is taken, then 'it is impossible for that human to destroy me in war' will be the meaning, as per Eastern recension.
VERSE 5

यः त्यक्त्वा सुहृदो राज्यम् मातरम् पितरम् तथा
स्त्री वाक्यम् प्राकृतम् श्रुत्वा वनम् एक पदे गतः

yaḥ tyaktvā suhṛdo rājyam mātaram pitaram tathā
strī vākyam prākṛtam śrutvā vanam eka pade gataḥ

SYNONYMS

yaḥ = vho is: which Rama is | prākṛtam strī vākyam śrutvā: artless, woman's, word, on hearing | su hṛdaḥ = gūd, hearted: friends and relatives | rājyam: kingdom | mātaram: mother | tathā: likewise | pitaram: father | tyaktvā: on leaving | eka pade = in single, fūt: trotted, loped | vanam gataḥ = forest, vent to: bolted off | ellip| māma bhetum naśakyā: you cannot scare me away from such a Rama. |

TRANSLATION

"He who bolted off to forest in a single-foot on hearing the artless words of a woman, forfeiting his kingdom, friends and relatives, and even his mother, likewise his father too, you cannot scare me away from such a Rama. [3-40-5]

VERSE 6

अवश्यम् तु मया तस्य संयुगे खर घातिनः
प्राणैः प्रियतरा सीता हर्तव्या तव संनिधौ

avaśyam tu mayā tasya saṃyuge khara ghātinaḥ
prāṇaiḥ priyatarā sītā hartavyā tava saṃnidhau

SYNONYMS

samyuge khara ghātinaḥ: in war, Khara, killer of | tasya prāṇaiḥ priya tarā sītā: than his, by lives, dear, more, Seetha | tava sannidhau = in your, presence: with your help | avaśyam mayā hartavyā = certainly, by me, is to be stolen: seizable. |

TRANSLATION

"But his wife Seetha who is dearer to him more than his lives is certainly seizable by me in association with you, as that Rama had purposelessly killed Khara in a war. [3-40-6]

VERSE 7

एवम् मे निश्चिता बुद्धिः हृदि मारीच विद्यते
न व्यावर्तयितुम् शक्या स इन्द्रैः अपि सुर असुरैः

evam me niścitā buddhiḥ hṛdi mārīca vidyate
na vyāvartayitum śakyā sa indraiḥ api sura asuraiḥ

SYNONYMS

mārīca: oh, Maareecha | me buddhiḥ evam niścitā: my, thinking, in this way, is decided | hṛdi vidyate [vartate]: in heart, obtains [lingering on] sa indraiH sura asuraiH api = with, Indra, by gods, by demons, even | vyāvartayitum: to revolute, to roll back | na śakyā: not, possible. |

TRANSLATION

"In this way my thinking is decided and it is lingering on in my heart, and it is impossible to roll back my mind or heart even for Indra coming along with gods and demons. [3-40-7]

VERSE 8

दोषम् गुणम् वा संपृष्टः त्वम् एवम् वक्तुम् अर्हसि
अपायम् वा अपि उपायम् वा कार्यस्य अस्य विनिश्चये

doṣam guṇam vā saṃpṛṣṭaḥ tvam evam vaktum arhasi
apāyam vā api upāyam vā kāryasya asya viniścaye

SYNONYMS

asya kāryasya viniścaye: of that, deed's, in determining | doṣam guṇam vā: discredit, credit, or | apāyam vā api: danger, either, or | upāyam vā: ideation, or | sampṛṣṭaḥ: if [you are] asked | tvam evam vaktum arhasi: you, this way, to talk, apt of you. |

TRANSLATION

"If you are asked about the credits or discredits, or either of the danger or ideation of the deed for determining its modus operandi, it will be apt of you to talk like this, but I did not seek any viewpoints of yours. [3-40-8]

VERSE 9

संपृष्टेन तु वक्तव्यम् सचिवेन विपश्चिता
उद्यत अंजलिना राज्ञे य इच्छेत् भूतिम् आत्मनः

saṃpṛṣṭena tu vaktavyam sacivena vipaścitā
udyata aṃjalinā rājñe ya icchet bhūtim ātmanaḥ

SYNONYMS

yaḥ: he who | ātmanaḥ bhūtim icchet: his own, welfare, if desires | sampṛṣṭena: someone who is asked | vipaścitā: by an intellectual | sacivena: by an adviser | udyata anjalinā: with upraised, folded palms | rājñe [rājñaḥ]: to king | vaktavyam: is liable to speak. |

TRANSLATION

"Even if someone is asked, and if he desires his own welfare, then he has to submit his opinion to the king suppliantly upraising his palm-fold, may he be an intellectual, or an astute adviser. [3-40-9]

PURPORT

A king cannot be addressed unless he asks. Then Maareecha, who is fully aware of monarchical protocol, how he informed his analysis of Rama to Ravana, will be the question. Even if a king is resolute in undertaking a mad act, he is to be cautioned. In some cases, a king is to be held by hair and taught, as a teacher holds the taught by his tuft of hair to earbash. Likewise an upright minister shall counsel the king properly, as Krishna advises Vidura in Maha Bharata at Udyoga Parva 93: nanu evam sati niitij~no maariico raavaNena apR^iShTaH katham uktavaan it cet - tanna - unmatto raaj~naa prashna akareNa api kaaryaatyaprasaktau nigR^ihya api vaktavyatvaat - tathaa ca pR^iShTen naiva vaktavyam iti katham vaktum shakyata iti cenna - pR^iShTenaiva vaktavyam iti etasya svastha avastha raaja viShayatvaat - aapadi uttham pratipanne c raajani kesha grahaNa puurvakam pR^iShTe naa api vaktavyam eva - dk .
VERSE 10

वाक्यम् अप्रतिकूलम् तु मृदु पूर्वम् शुभम् हितम्
उपचारेण युक्तम् च वक्तव्यो वसुधा अधिपः

vākyam apratikūlam tu mṛdu pūrvam śubham hitam
upacāreṇa yuktam ca vaktavyo vasudhā adhipaḥ

SYNONYMS

vasudhā adhipaḥ = a land, lord of: a king | a prati kūlam = not, going against: contradictory | mṛdu pūrvam: gentility, preceding | hitam: beneficial | śubham: favourable | upacāreṇa yuktam ca: etiquette, inclusive of, also | vākyam = vith suc a: sentence | vaktavyaḥ: is to be addressed. |

TRANSLATION

"The king being lord of the land is to be addressed preceded with gentility, with auspicious and beneficial words that do not contradict the interests of that lord, more so, they shall be inclusive of etiquette. [3-40-10]

PURPORT

The imperial protocol is an exaggerated affair, as known to everybody. Here Ravana is demanding one more aspect in demanding, 'the words that do not go against the whims and fancies of the king.' And this is more than an autocrat's mentality. Dharmaakuutam says referring to Kaamandaka, a scripture on political science: 'even if a king asks, one shall not 'readily' reply though every aspect of that question is known to the replier, and the subject speaking in the audience of a king shall forget his own know-all-ness or his own entity in the knowledge of the subject at issue. vijaanan na api bruuyaat bhartruH kShiptaH uttaram vacaH | praviiNo api hi medhaavii varjayet abhimaanitaam || .
VERSE 11

स अवमर्दम् तु यत् वाक्यम् अथवा मारीच हितम् उच्यते
न अभिनंदति तत् राजा मानार्थी मान वर्जितम्

sa avamardam tu yat vākyam athavā mārīca hitam ucyate
na abhinaṃdati tat rājā mānārthī māna varjitam

SYNONYMS

mārīca: oh, Maareecha | athavā: or else | māna varjitam = honour, devoid of: dishonourable words | yat hitam vākyam tu: which, beneficial, advise, but | sa ava mardam = vith, dovn, letting: with reprehension | ucyate: will be said so | tat: that advise | māna arthī [or, mānārhaḥ]: honour, insists upon [honourable] | rājā: king | na abhi nandati: not, towards [him,] gladdens. |

TRANSLATION

"Or else, oh, Maareecha, even if a beneficial word is said, but if it is said with reprehension it will not gladden that king who insists upon honour, for that said word is dishonourable, let alone reprehension. [3-40-11]

VERSE 12

पंच रूपाणि राजानो धारयन्ति अमित ओजसः
अग्नेः इन्द्रस्य सोमस्य यमस्य वरुणस्य च

paṃca rūpāṇi rājāno dhārayanti amita ojasaḥ
agneḥ indrasya somasya yamasya varuṇasya ca

SYNONYMS

a mita ojasaḥ = not, limited in vigour: with infinite, vigour | rājānaḥ: kings | agneḥ indrasya somasya yamasya varuṇasya ca: of Fire, Indra [the Administrator of Natural Forces,] Moon, Terminator, Rain, also | panca rūpāṇi dhārayanti = five, aspects: constituent forces, he bear - he embodies. |

TRANSLATION

"The kings with infinite vigour embody five constituents forces of Fire, Moon, Rain, Terminator, and that of Indra, the Administrator of Natural Forces. [3-40-12]

VERSE 13

औष्ण्यम् तथा विक्रमम् च सौम्यम् दण्डम् प्रसन्नताम्
धारयन्ति महाताम्नो राजानः क्षणदाचर

auṣṇyam tathā vikramam ca saumyam daṇḍam prasannatām
dhārayanti mahātāmno rājānaḥ kṣaṇadācara

SYNONYMS

, 14a| kśaṇadā cara: oh, night, walker Maareecha | mahātāmnaḥ rājānaḥ: great-souls, kings | auṣṇyam: sultriness | tathā: likewise | vikramam ca: sternness, also | saumyam daṇḍam prasannatām: softness, harshness, suppleness | dhārayanti = they are bearing: they personify | tasmāt pārthivāḥ: therefore, kings | sarvāsu avasthāsu: in all, situations | mānyāḥ pūjyāḥ ca: are respectable, reverential, also. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, nightwalker, thus the kings being great-souls personify the sultriness of Fire, sternness of Indra, softness of Moon, suppleness of Rain, and harshness of Terminator, and therefore in all situations they are respectable and reverential. [3-40-13, 14a]

PURPORT

Ravana has already conquered Indra and the said gods are responsible for the routine administration of universe. Hence, he is informing Maareecha about ordinary kings, presuming that Maareecha does not recognize the rectitude in dealing with ordinary kings, more so, with the king of kings, namely Ravana himself, which he says in next verse. A king acquires these traits of the presiding deities of the compass, by virtue of his kingship, and the sages said the very same to Rama when he entered Dandaka forest. anena agni aadi dik paalaka ruupatvaat raajaa puujyo maanyaH ca iti suucitam - dk .
VERSE 14

त्वम् तु धर्मम् अविज्ञाय केवलम् मोहम् आश्रितः

tvam tu dharmam avijñāya kevalam moham āśritaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 15a| tvam tu: you, on your part | dharmam a vijñāya = rectitude, not, knoving: incognizant of | kevalam moham āśritaḥ: only, your obsession, holding on to | abhi āgatam mām: to your near, who came, with me | daur ātmyāt: with ill, wishing | īdṛśam paruṣam vadasi: this way, ill-advisedly, you are babbling. |

TRANSLATION

"But you are ill-advisedly babbling with me in this way, incognizant of rectitude and holding on to your obsession, and wishing ill of me, as I am on your doorstep. [3-40-14b, 15a]

VERSE 15

गुण दोषौ न पृच्छामि क्षमम् च आत्मनि राक्षस

guṇa doṣau na pṛcchāmi kṣamam ca ātmani rākṣasa

SYNONYMS

rākṣasa: oh, demon | guṇa doṣau: rights, wrongs | ātmani: for me | [yat: which is] | kṣamam ca: expedient, also | na pṛcchāmi: not, I asked | a mita vikrama = oh, one vith not, limited, brave: oh, Maareecha untold bravery | tvām prati: you, addressing [samprati = presently] | etāvat: this much | mayā uktam api ca: by me, said, but, also. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, demon, I did not ask the rights and wrongs concerning me, nor that which is expedient for me, but oh, demon of untold bravery, I have said this much to you. [3-40-15]

VERSE 16

अस्मिन् तु स भवान् कृत्ये साहाय्यम् कर्तुम् अर्हसि

asmin tu sa bhavān kṛtye sāhāyyam kartum arhasi

SYNONYMS

asmin tu kṛtye: in this, but, deed | [tvam: you] | sāhāyyam kartum arhasi: helping hand, to proffer, apt of you | mama vacanāt = my, from vords: as I say | sa bhavān: such as you are, you | sāhāyye: in such assistance | yat kāryam: which, is to be done | tat karma śruṇu: that, task, you listen. |

TRANSLATION

" 'It will be apt of you to proffer a helping hand in this deed.' This much I said to you. And such as you are you may now listen to that task which you have to undertake during the course of your assistance as I detail it to you. [3-40-16]

VERSE 17

सौवर्णः त्वम् मृगो भूत्वा चित्रो रजत बिन्दुभिः

sauvarṇaḥ tvam mṛgo bhūtvā citro rajata bindubhiḥ

SYNONYMS

tvam: you | rajata bindubhiḥ: with silver, spots | citraḥ sauvarṇaḥ mṛgaḥ bhūtvā: amazing, golden, deer, on becoming | tasya rāmasya āśrame: in that one, Rama's, in hermitage | sītāyāḥ pra mukhe cara: in Seetha's, fore, front forefront, you move | vaidehīm pra lobhayitvā: Vaidehi, on verily, alluring | yathā iṣṭam gantum arhasi: as, you like, to go away, apt of you. |

TRANSLATION

"On becoming an amazing silver-potted golden deer you move in front of Seetha in the hermitage of Rama, and on verily alluring Vaidehi you can go away as you like. [3-40-17, 18 ]

VERSE 19

त्वाम् हि माया मयम् दृष्ट्वा कांचनम् जात विस्मया
आनय एनम् इति क्षिप्रम् रामम् वक्ष्यति मैथिली

tvām hi māyā mayam dṛṣṭvā kāṃcanam jāta vismayā
ānaya enam iti kṣipram rāmam vakṣyati maithilī

SYNONYMS

maithilī: Maithili | kāncanam [mṛgam ]: golden [deer] | māyā mayam: illusory, wholly | tvām dṛṣṭvā: you, on seeing | jāta vismayā: with arisen, curiosity | enam kṣipram ānaya: this one, quickly, be brought | iti: thus | rāmam vakṣyati hi: to Rama, tells, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

"On seeing you as a wholly illusory golden deer curiosity arises in Vaidehi, and indeed she tells Rama, 'bring that one quickly.' [3-40-19]

VERSE 20

अपक्रान्ते च काकुत्स्थे दूरम् च यात्वा अपि उदाहर
हा सीते लक्ष्मणे इति एवम् राम वाक्य अनुरूपकम्

apakrānte ca kākutsthe dūram ca yātvā api udāhara
hā sīte lakṣmaṇe iti evam rāma vākya anurūpakam

SYNONYMS

kākutsthe apa krānte ca: Kakutstha, out, coming, further | [tvam: you] | dūram yātvā ca: distantly, having gone, also | rāma vākya anu rūpakam: Rama's, words [voice,] following, in model [mimicking] | hā sīte lakśmaṇe: ha, Seetha, ha, Lakshmana | udāhara api = ekṣpress: you blurt out even. |

TRANSLATION

"Further, on Rama's coming out of his hermitage you go distantly and blurt out in this way, 'ha Seetha' and even as, 'ha, Lakshmana,' mimicking Rama's voice. [3-40-20]

VERSE 21

तत् श्रुत्वा राम पदवीम् सीताया च प्रचोदितः
अनुगच्छति संभ्रांतम् सौमित्रिः अपि सौहृदात्

tat śrutvā rāma padavīm sītāyā ca pracoditaḥ
anugacchati saṃbhrāṃtam saumitriḥ api sauhṛdāt

SYNONYMS

saumitriḥ api: Soumitri, even | tat śrutvā: that, on hearing | sītāyā ca pra coditaḥ: = by Seetha, further, well, hastened | sambhrāntam: apprehensively | sauhṛdāt: due to fondness towards Rama | rāma padavīm: on Rama's, path | anugacchati: follows. |

TRANSLATION

"On hearing that, and further hastened by Seetha, even Soumitri apprehensively follows the path of Rama in all his fondness for Rama. [3-40-21]

VERSE 22

अपक्रान्ते च काकुत्स्थे लक्ष्मण च यथा सुखम्
आहरिष्यामि वैदेहीम् सहस्राक्षः शचीम् इव

apakrānte ca kākutsthe lakṣmaṇa ca yathā sukham
āhariṣyāmi vaidehīm sahasrākṣaḥ śacīm iva

SYNONYMS

kākutsthe: Rama | lakśmaṇa ca: Lakshmana, as well | apa krānte: when sidetracked | vaidehīm: Vaidehi | sahasra akṣaḥ śacīm iva: thousand, eyed one [Indra,] Sachi, like | yathā sukham āhariṣyāmi = as per, convenience: effortlessly, I carry off. |

TRANSLATION

"When Rama is diverted from hermitage, Lakshmana as well, I will carry off Vaidehi effortlessly like the Thousand-eyed Indra who once carried off Sachi Devi. [3-40-22]

VERSE 23

एवम् कृत्वा तु इदम् कार्यम् यथा इष्टम् गच्छ राक्षस
राज्यस्य अर्धम् प्रदास्यामि मारीच तव सुव्रत

evam kṛtvā tu idam kāryam yathā iṣṭam gaccha rākṣasa
rājyasya ardham pradāsyāmi mārīca tava suvrata

SYNONYMS

rākṣasa: oh, demon | idam kāryam evam kṛtvā: this, stint, in this manner, on carrying out | yathā iṣṭam gaccha: as, you like, you go | su vrata: oh, one with solemnly, avowed one | mārīca: oh, Maareecha | tava: to you | rājyasya ardham pradāsyāmi: kingdom's, half, I grant. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, demon, on carrying out this stint in this manner you may go as you like, and to you oh, Maareecha with solemn vows, I will grant half of my kingdom. [3-40-23]

VERSE 24

गच्छ सौम्य शिवम् मार्गम् कार्यस्य अस्य विवृद्धये
अहम् तु अनुगमिष्यामि स रथो दण्डका वनम्

gaccha saumya śivam mārgam kāryasya asya vivṛddhaye
aham tu anugamiṣyāmi sa ratho daṇḍakā vanam

SYNONYMS

saumya: oh, gentle one | asya kāryasya vi vṛddhaye = for this, for task's, verily, for progressing: for easy achievement | śivam mārgam gaccha: ontrouble-free, path, you get going | aham tu: I, for my part | sa rathaḥ daṇḍakā vanam anugamiṣyāmi: with, chariot, to Dandaka, forest, I wish to follow. |

TRANSLATION

"Hence, oh, gentle one, get going on a trouble-free path for the easy achievement of the task, and I for myself will follow you to Dandaka forest along with the chariot. [3-40-24]

VERSE 25

प्राप्य सीताम् अयुद्धेन वंचयित्वा तु राघवम्
लंकाम् प्रति गमिष्यामि कृत कार्यः सह त्वया

prāpya sītām ayuddhena vaṃcayitvā tu rāghavam
laṃkām prati gamiṣyāmi kṛta kāryaḥ saha tvayā

SYNONYMS

rāghavam vancayitvā tu: Raghava, on misleading, but | sītām a yuddhena prāpya: Seetha, without, conflict, on gaining | kṛta kāryaḥ = on gaining, task: my goal | tvayā saha: you, along with | lankām prati gamiṣyāmi: Lanka, towards, I will proceed. |

TRANSLATION

"My goal will be achieved just by misleading Raghava, and by gaining Seetha without a conflict, then I will proceed to Lanka along with you. [3-40-25]

VERSE 26

नो चेत् करोषि मारीच हन्मि त्वाम् अहम् अद्य वै
एतत् कार्यम् अवश्यम् मे बलाद् अपि करिष्यसि
राज्ञो हि प्रतिकूलस्थो न जातु सुखम् एधते

no cet karoṣi mārīca hanmi tvām aham adya vai
etat kāryam avaśyam me balād api kariṣyasi
rājño hi pratikūlastho na jātu sukham edhate

SYNONYMS

mārīca: oh, Maareecha | na karoṣi cet: not, going to do, if | tvām aham adya vai hanmi: you, I, now itself, truly, I kill | me etat kāryam: mine, this, work | balāt api avaśyam kariṣyasi = by duress, even, certainly, you undertake: I will get it done | rājñaḥ prati kūla sthaḥ = to king, indīd, opposite, staying: subjects that set against | jātu: never | sukham na edhate hi: safely, not, succeeds, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

"If you are not going to do so, oh, Maareecha, for sure I will kill you now itself. I will get my work done through you even under duress, and indeed, any subject setting against his king will never succeed safely. [3-40-26]

VERSE 27

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अरण्य काण्डे चत्वारिंशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye araṇya kāṇḍe catvāriṃśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

tam = him: Rama | āsādyā: on getting at | te jīvita samśayaḥ: your, life, will be indefinite | mayā virudhyataḥ: with me, conflicting | adya mṛtyuḥ dhruvaḥ hi: now, death, is definite, surely | etat buddhyā: all this, keeping in view | yathāvat parigṛhya = as befitting: conducive, receiving - understanding, conclusion | atra: in this issue | yat pathyam: what is, desirable | tat tvam tathā kuru: that, you, that way, do. |

TRANSLATION

"Your life may be indefinite on reaching Rama, but your death is surely definite now as you are conflicting with me. Hence, keeping all this in view you come to a conclusion that would be conducive to your interests, and whatever desirable to you let it be done in that way. " Thus Ravana spoke to Maareecha. [3-40-27]