Canto 3 -
Araṇya-kāṇḍa
Chapter 40: Rāvaṇa Criticizes Mārīca
Text 3.40.8
दोषं गुणं वा संपृष्टस्त्वमेवं वक्तुमर्हसि।
अपायं वाप्युपायं वा कार्यस्यास्य विनिश्चये॥
doṣaṁ guṇaṁ vā sampṛṣṭas tvam evaṁ vaktum arhasi
apāyaṁ vāpy upāyaṁ vā kāryasyāsya viniścaye
doṣam = cons; guṇam = about its pros; vā = and; sampṛṣṭaḥ = are questioned; tvam = [if] you; evam = in this manner; vaktum arhasi = you should speak; apāyam = the risks involved in it; vā api = or; upāyam vā = about the means to accomplish it; kāryasya = plan of action; asya = about an; viniścaye = ascertained.
[If] you are questioned about an ascertained plan of action, about its pros and cons, about the means to accomplish it or the risks involved in it, you should speak in this manner.
It is indicated herewith that Rāvaṇa had not questioned Mārīca in this way and that it was not appropriate for Mārīca to have spoken the way [he did].
Incidentally, Rāvaṇa points out how one should submit [his ideas] to a king in the next verse.