Canto 3 -
Araṇya-kāṇḍa
Chapter 40: Rāvaṇa Criticizes Mārīca
Text 3.40.9
संपृष्टेन तु वक्तव्यं सचिवेन विपश्चिता।
उद्यताञ्जलिना राज्ञे य इच्छेद्भूतिमात्मनः॥
sampṛṣṭena tu vaktavyaṁ sacivena vipaścitā
udyatāñjalinā rājñe ya icched bhūtim ātmanaḥ
sampṛṣṭena tu = when he is asked [for his opinion]; vaktavyam = should speak; sacivena = assistant; vipaścitā = an intelligent; udyata-añjalinā = with his palms joined together in submission; rājñe = to the king; yaḥ = who; icchet = desires; bhūtim = opulence; ātmanaḥ = for himself.
An intelligent assistant who desires opulence for himself should speak to the king with his palms joined together in submission, when he is asked [for his opinion].
An intelligent [assistant in this context] refers to one who knows how to serve a king.