Canto 3 -
Araṇya-kāṇḍa
Chapter 40: Rāvaṇa Criticizes Mārīca
Text 3.40.14
त्वं तु धर्ममविज्ञाय केवलं मोहमास्थितः।
अभ्यागतं मां दौरात्म्यात्परुषं वक्तुमिच्छसि॥
tvaṁ tu dharmam avijñāya kevalaṁ moham āsthitaḥ
abhyāgataṁ māṁ daurātmyāt paruṣaṁ vaktum icchasi
tvam = you; tu = but; dharmam = the dharma related to kings; avijñāya = without knowing; kevalam = simply; moham = ignorance; āsthitaḥ = have taken shelter of; abhyāgatam = [when] I approach [you to assist me]; mām = to me; daurātmyāt = because of your wicked nature; paruṣam = in a harsh manner; vaktum = to speak; icchasi = you want.
But without knowing the dharma related to kings, you have simply taken shelter of ignorance. Because of your wicked nature, you want to speak to me in a harsh manner [when] I approach [you to assist me].
Anticipating that Mārīca would ask, “Then how should I speak?” Rāvaṇa speaks the next verse.