Shloka 10

मायामृगदर्शनम्

The Vision of the Illusory Deer

Devanagari script

इहाश्रमपदेऽस्माकं बहवः पुण्यदर्शनाः।मृगाश्चरन्ति सहिताश्चमरास्सृमरास्तथा।।।।

Transliteration

ihāśrama-pade 'smākaṃ bahavaḥ puṇya-darśanāḥ |

mṛgāś caranti sahitāś camarāḥ sṛmarās tathā ||

Translation

«Hier, auf dem Gelände unseres Āśrama, streifen viele sanfte Wesen von glückverheißendem Anblick in Herden umher: Hirsche, ebenso Camaras und Antilopen.»

Word by Word

• इह: here
• इह: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• आश्रमपदे: at the hermitage-site
• आश्रमपदे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम+पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी (Loc.), एकवचन (sg.)

• अस्माकम्: of us/our
• अस्माकम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Gen.), बहुवचन (pl.)

• बहवः: many
• बहवः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन (pl.); ‘मृगाः/चमराः/सृमराः’ इत्यादीनां विशेषणम्

• पुण्यदर्शनाः: pleasing/auspicious-looking
• पुण्यदर्शनाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य+दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन (pl.); ‘मृगाः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• मृगाः: deer
• मृगाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन (pl.)

• चरन्ति: wander
• चरन्ति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (pl.), परस्मैपद

• सहिताः: together/in herds
• सहिताः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सह (उपसर्ग) + इ (धातु) / सहित (प्रातिपदिक as PPP)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन (pl.); ‘मृगाः/चमराः/सृमराः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• चमराः: chamaras (yaks)
• चमराः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; coordinated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चमर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन (pl.)

• सृमराः: antelopes
• सृमराः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; coordinated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृमर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन (pl.)

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (also/likewise)

Context

Here at the hermitage there are many lovely deer, yaks and antelopes wandering in herds.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• āśrama (hermitage)
• mṛga (deer)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

It reflects the āśrama ideal: harmony with living beings and a peaceful environment. Dharma in the forest context includes non-violence and mindful coexistence.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā describes the normal, peaceful wildlife around their hermitage, setting up her contrast with the extraordinary deer she has just seen.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s gentle appreciation of the hermitage ecology reflects tenderness and a calm domestic spirit even during exile.