Shloka 6

मायामृगदर्शनम्

The Vision of the Illusory Deer

Devanagari script

अस्य मायाविदो मायामृगरूपमिदं कृतम्।भानुमत्पुरुषव्याघ्र गन्धर्वपुरसन्निभम्।।।।

Transliteration

asya māyāvido māyāmṛgarūpam idaṃ kṛtam | bhānumat puruṣavyāghra gandharvapurasannibham ||

Translation

O Tiger unter den Menschen, dies ist die trügerische Hirschgestalt, durch die Zauberkunst jenes Meisters der Täuschung geschaffen; strahlend im Anblick, einer Gandharva-Stadt gleich — ein Wunder ohne wahre Substanz.

Word by Word

• अस्य: of this (one)/his
• अस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी (Gen.), एकवचन (sg.)

• मायाविदः: of the knower/practitioner of illusion
• मायाविदः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मायाविद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी (Gen.), एकवचन (sg.); ‘अस्य’ इत्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन

• मायामृगरूपम्: the form of an illusory deer
• मायामृगरूपम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; with कृतम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया+मृग+रूप (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (sg.); ‘इदम्’ इत्यस्य विशेष्य; ‘illusory-deer-form’

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; demonstrative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (sg.)

• कृतम्: made/assumed
• कृतम्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Predicate; passive predication)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भावे/कर्मणि प्रयोग: ‘has been made/assumed’

• भानुमत्: radiant
• भानुमत्: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Vocative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भानुमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन-रूपेण (Vocative usage), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), एकवचन (sg.); ‘पुरुषव्याघ्र’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• पुरुषव्याघ्र: O tiger among men
• पुरुषव्याघ्र: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष+व्याघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सम्बोधन (Voc.), एकवचन (sg.)

• गन्धर्वपुरसन्निभम्: like a Gandharva-city (illusory)
• गन्धर्वपुरसन्निभम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गन्धर्व+पुर+सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (sg.); ‘मायामृगरूपम्/इदम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Context

O tiger among men, this deceitful demon (Maricha) has been transformed into the illusory form of a radiant deer which does not exist.

Characters & Entities

• Mārīca
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Satya (truth) is opposed to māyā (deception): dharma warns that dazzling appearances can be unreal and morally dangerous when used to mislead.

What is the narrative situation?

The speaker explains that the ‘deer’ is an artificial illusion—an instrument of deception meant to lure and distract.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment (viveka): the ability to see through attractive but insubstantial appearances is implied as a needed virtue.