“Do not cast yourself headlong into the fierce fire of Rama blazing on the battlefield,” Maricha beseeched the Rakshasa king. “Upon encountering, Rama you will relinquish for good your throne, your happiness and your very life. Rama’s glory is immeasurable. You will no more prove able to remove Sita from Rama than you could take from the sun its brilliance. O Ravana, remain peacefully in Lanka. Do not bring about your own destruction, along with that of your relatives, friends and entire kingdom.”
