Rāvaṇa, the lord of the Rākṣasas, addressed Mārīca with a voice both commanding and cunning. “Great kings, O night-wanderer,” he declared, “possess heat, valor, gentleness, the power to punish, and graciousness, just as do the gods themselves. Therefore, at all times and in every circumstance, they must be honored and revered. Yet you, ignorant of your duty, are seized by delusion. “Out of wickedness, you have spoken such harsh words to one who has come to you. I do not ask about merits or faults, nor even of your own welfare, O Rākṣasa. But despite all I have said, O one of restrained prowess, you must assist me in this task. “Hear now what you must do to help me. You must transform yourself into a golden deer, adorned with shimmering silver spots. Roam before Sītā in Rāma’s hermitage, and after you have enticed Vaidehī, you may depart as you wish. When Maithilī sees you—a magical, golden creature—she will be amazed and will quickly urge Rāma, ‘Bring it to me!’ And when Kakutstha has gone far away, you should cry out, ‘Ha, Sītā! Lakṣmaṇa!’ in a voice that resembles Rāma’s. Hearing that, and urged by Sītā, Saumitri too, out of friendship, will anxiously follow Rāma’s path. “When Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa have departed, I will seize Vaidehī at my ease, just as Indra, the thousand-eyed, once took Śachī. Once you have done this, go wherever you wish, O Rākṣasa; O Mārīca, steadfast one, I will grant you half my kingdom. Go, gentle one, by a safe path for the success of this task; I will follow you with my chariot into the Daṇḍaka forest. Having deceived Rāghava in battle and seized Sītā, I will return to Laṅkā, my purpose accomplished, together with you. “But if you do not do this, Mārīca, I will surely kill you today. You must carry out this task for me, even by force. One who stands against the king never attains happiness. If you confront him, your life will be in danger; death is certain today if you oppose me. Consider this well with your intellect and do what is proper in this matter.” Thus ends one chapter, and the next begins. Thus commanded by Rāvaṇa, and seeing his opposition to the righteous path of kings, Mārīca, without fear, spoke harsh words to the lord of the Rākṣasas. “By whom has this destruction been advised to you, O night-wanderer—for yourself, your sons, your kingdom, and your ministers, you of evil deeds? Who, O king, being happy, would not welcome you, O doer of evil? By whom has this gateway to death been pointed out to you? “It is clear, O night-wanderer, that your enemies, though weak, wish to see you destroyed by one more powerful. By whom has this been advised to you—by someone base and of evil mind, who wishes you to perish by your own hand, O night-wanderer? Indeed, those ministers of yours, O Rāvaṇa, who do not restrain you when you have taken the wrong path, though they should be punished, are not punished. “A king who, driven by desire, has taken to a wrong path should certainly be restrained by virtuous ministers in every way; but you are not being restrained. O best of conquerors, ministers attain righteousness, wealth, desire, and fame through the favor of their lord, O night-wanderer. But when the opposite occurs, O Rāvaṇa, all that becomes futile; others suffer misfortune because of the faults of their lord. “For the root of righteousness and fame is indeed the king, O best of conquerors; therefore, kings must be protected in all circumstances. A kingdom cannot be governed by one who is harsh, nor by one who is excessively antagonistic or lacking in courtesy, O demon. Those ministers who employ harsh counsel together with such a ruler are quickly ruined in difficult situations, like chariots with slow drivers. “Many virtuous people in the world, who have acted rightly, have perished along with their possessions due to the faults of others. When subjects are protected by a master who is hostile and harsh, O Rāvaṇa, they do not prosper, just as sheep do not thrive under the care of a jackal. All the demons will certainly perish, O Rāvaṇa, whose king is cruel, foolish, and unable to control his senses. “This dreadful event has come upon me by chance, and here you are, to be mourned; you and your army will perish. After killing me, Rāma will soon slay you; by this, my purpose is fulfilled, and I die, struck down by an enemy. Consider me already slain merely by the sight of Rāma; know yourself to be destroyed as well, having abducted Sītā along with her kin. “If you bring Sītā from the hermitage together with me, neither you nor I, nor Laṅkā nor the demons, will survive. Though I, your well-wisher, try to restrain you, you do not accept these words, O night-wanderer. Men whose lives are ended, like the dead, do not heed the advice spoken by friends.” The next chapter begins. Having spoken harshly, Mārīca then said to Rāvaṇa, “Let us go,” sorrowful and fearful of the lord of the night-wanderers. “I have again been seen by him who bears bow, arrows, and sword, whose weapon is raised to kill me; my life is already destroyed. No one who confronts Rāma returns alive; he is like the punishment of Yama for you.” Thus, with heavy heart and foreboding, Mārīca resigned himself to the dreadful task, knowing that doom awaited them both.