Canto 3 -
Araṇya-kāṇḍa
Chapter 40: Rāvaṇa Criticizes Mārīca
Text 3.40.10
वाक्यमप्रतिकूलं तु मृदुपूर्वं हितं शुभम्।
उपचारेण युक्तं च वक्तव्यो वसुधाधिपः॥
vākyam apratikūlaṁ tu mṛdu-pūrvaṁ hitaṁ śubham
upacāreṇa yuktaṁ ca vaktavyo vasudhādhipaḥ
vākyam = words; apratikūlam = criticism; tu = but; mṛdu-pūrvam = gently; hitam = of constructive; śubham = sweetly; upacāreṇa yuktam = respectfully; ca = and; vaktavyaḥ = one should speak; vasudhā-adhipaḥ = to a king.
But one should speak words of constructive criticism gently, sweetly and respectfully to a king.1
1 Technical note: śubhaṁ madhura-varṇa-viśiṣṭam.
Rāvaṇa has stated the excellences of one who speaks out [his ideas] in this verse. In the next verse, he talks about how one should speak [those] words.
Even if [words of constructive criticism] are for the king’s benefit, they need to be spoken respectfully.
He then states in the next verse that one should not speak in any other manner.