1st, from Bhakti Vikas Swami’s Ramayana rendering
As Rama took up his bow and advanced toward Ravana, Surya spoke to him from the sky urging “Do not delay! Go quickly!”
Rama then ordered “O Matali, drive quickly to where Ravana is staying, but do so with great caution.”
Remembering that He was speaking to Indra’s charioteer, Rama became embarrassed and apologized, saying “I am sorry to have instructed you as if were your master. I am simply eager to kill Ravana and hope you will excuse my offense.”
Matali was touched by Rama’s display of humility and soon brought Indra’s chariot to Ravana’s side.
2nd, the same episode taken directly from Valmiki Ramayana.
Sri Ramachandra’s being careful about how he speaks to Matali
मातले पश्य सन्रब्धमापतन्तन् रथं रिपोः || ६-१०६-९
यथापसव्यं पतता वेगेन महता पुनः |
समरे हन्तुमात्मानन् तथानेन कृता मतिः || ६-१०६-१०
9; 10. Maatale = O Matali!; pashya = look at; ripoh ratham = this chariot of the enemy; aapatantam = coming forward; samrabdham = furiously; yathaa = as; anena = by him; punah = once more; patataa = coming; mahataa vegena = with a great speed; apasavyam = from the right to the left; tathaa = therefore; matikritaa = heart has been set; hantum = upon destroying; aatmaanam = himself samara = in the battle.
“O Matali! From the way in which the enemy is marching forward from left to right with a great speed in his chariot, it appears that heart has been set by him upon destroying himself in the battle.”
तदप्रमादमातिष्ठ प्रत्युद्गच्छ रथन् रिपोः|
विध्वन्सयितुमिच्छामि वायुर्मेघमिवोत्थितम् || ६-१०६-११
11. tat = therefore; aatishtha apramaadam = take care; pratyudgachchha = and go opposite to; ripoh ratham = the chariot of the enemy; ichchhaami = I wish; vidhvamsayitum = to destroy (it); vaayuh iva = even as the wind; utthitam = would blow; megham = a cloud.
“Therefore, take care and march forward; facing the chariot of the enemy, I wish to destroy it, even as the wind would blow a cloud.”
अविक्लवमसम्भ्रान्तमव्यग्रहृदयेक्षणम् |
रश्मिसञ्चारनियतं प्रचोदय रथन् द्रुतम् || ६-१०६-१२
12. aviklabam = without fear; asambhraantam = and without flurry; avyagrahridayekshanam and with a steady heart and vision; rashmi samchaara niyatam = and the move of the reins fully controlled; prachodaya = drive; ratham = the chariot; drutam = swiftly.
“Without fear and flurry and with a steady heart and vision, and the movement of the reins fully controlled, drive the chariot swiftly.”
कामं न त्वन् समाधेयः पुरन्दररथोचितः |
युयुत्सुरहमेकाग्रः स्मारये त्वां न शिक्षये || ६-१०६-१३
13. tvam = you; na samaadheya = need not be instructed (by me); purandara rathochitah = accustomed as you are to drive the chariot of Indra the lord of celestials; aham yuyutsuh = keen as I am to fight; ekaagrah = with a close attention smaaraye = I am just reminding; tvaam = you; na shikshaye = and not teaching you.
“You need not be instructed by me, accustomed as you are to drive the chariot of Indra, the lord of celestials. Keen as I am to fight with a close attention, I am just reminding you and not teaching you.”
परितुष्टः स रामस्य तेन वाक्येन मातलिः |
प्रचोदयामास रथन् सुरसारथिसत्तमः || ६-१०६-१४
14. paritushtah = extremely gratified; tena vaakyena = with those words; raamasya = of Rama; sah maatalih = that Matali; uttamah = the excellent; sura saarathih = charioteer of gods; prachodayaamaase = drove on; ratham = the chariot.
Extremely gratified with those words of Rama, Matali, the excellent charioteer of gods, drove on the chariot.
