Shloka 21

मारीचवधः — The Slaying of Maricha

Golden Deer Deception

Devanagari script

तं दृष्ट्वा पतितं भूमौ राक्षसं घोरदर्शनम्।।।।रामो रुधिरसिक्ताङ्गं चेष्टमानं महीतले।जगाम मनसा सीतां लक्ष्मणस्य वचस्स्मरन्।।।।

Transliteration

taṃ dṛṣṭvā patitaṃ bhūmau rākṣasaṃ ghoradarśanam |

rāmo rudhirasiktāṅgaṃ ceṣṭamānaṃ mahītale |

jagāma manasā sītāṃ lakṣmaṇasya vacaḥ smaran ||

Translation

Als Rāma den schrecklich aussehenden Rākṣasa am Boden liegen sah, dessen Glieder blutüberströmt waren und noch zuckten, erinnerte er sich an Lakṣmaṇas Worte und richtete seine Gedanken sofort auf Sītā.

Word by Word

• तम्: that (one)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having seen’

• पतितम्: fallen
• पतितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pat (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘rākṣasam’)

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• राक्षसम्: demon
• राक्षसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• घोर-दर्शनम्: of terrible appearance
• घोर-दर्शनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक) + darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘rākṣasam’)

Context

Struck in the vital part by Rama's matchless dart, Maricha gave up the form of the deer and assumed his huge body of the demon.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Mārīca
• Sītā
• Lakṣmaṇa
• rākṣasa

FAQs

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

Heeding wise counsel: dharma includes listening to prudent advice (Lakṣmaṇa’s warning) and acting with protective concern for dependents (Sītā).

What is the narrative situation?

After seeing Mārīca’s true form on the ground, Rāma recalls Lakṣmaṇa’s earlier caution and immediately worries for Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsibility and foresight: Rāma’s mind turns to Sītā’s safety, showing guardianship and moral attentiveness beyond mere victory.