Canto 3 -
Araṇya-kāṇḍa
Chapter 36: Rāvaṇa Requests Mārīca to Help him
Text 3.36.1
मारीच श्रूयतां तात वचनं मम भाषतः।
आर्तोऽस्मि मम चार्तस्य भवान्हि परमा गतिः॥
mārīca śrūyatāṁ tāta vacanaṁ mama bhāṣataḥ
ārto ’smi mama cārtasya bhavān hi paramā gatiḥ
mārīca = Mārīca; śrūyatām = listen; tāta = dear; vacanam = to words; mama = my; bhāṣataḥ = while I speak; ārtaḥ = in distress; asmi = I am; mama = for me; ca = and; ārtasya = [when] I am in distress; bhavān = you; hi = alone; paramā = are the supreme; gatiḥ = shelter.
Dear Mārīca, listen to my words while I speak. I am in distress and you alone are the supreme shelter for me [when] I am in distress.
I bow my head and offer obeisances unto the most beloved life and soul of Jānakī. His gravity is unshaken even amidst a great battle.
From the next verse, Rāvaṇa reminds [Mārīca] of the events that had taken place, in order to tell him what he needs to do.