Shloka 19

मायामृगप्रकरणम्

The Illusory Deer Episode: Ravana and Maricha at Rama’s Hermitage

Devanagari script

क्षणेन राक्षसो जातो मृगः परमशोभनः।।3.42.19।।वनं प्रज्वलयन्रम्यं रामाश्रमपदं च तत्।

Transliteration

kṣaṇena rākṣaso jāto mṛgaḥ paramaśobhanaḥ ||3.42.19||

vanaṃ prajvalayan ramyaṃ rāmāśramapadaṃ ca tat |

Translation

In an instant the rākṣasa became a deer of supreme beauty, making the lovely forest—and that place of Rāma’s hermitage—seem to blaze with splendor.

Word by Word

• क्षणेन: in a moment
• क्षणेन: अधिकरण (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; कालवाचक (instrumental of time)

• राक्षसः: the demon
• राक्षसः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• जातः: became, was transformed
• जातः: क्रिया (Predicate: became)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP) used predicatively; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भावे/कर्मणि (became/was transformed)

• मृगः: a deer
• मृगः: प्रत्ययार्थ-विशेष्य (Complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; राक्षसस्य विशेष्य-रूपेण (as what he became)

• परमशोभनः: supremely beautiful
• परमशोभनः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier of मृगः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम + शोभन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (exceedingly beautiful)

• वनम्: the forest
• वनम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• प्रज्वलयन्: blazing/lighting up
• प्रज्वलयन्: कर्तृसम्बन्धी क्रियाविशेषण (Concomitant action of subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + ज्वल् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि (while blazing/illuminating)

• रम्यम्: beautiful
• रम्यम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying वनम्)

• रामाश्रमपदम्: Rama's hermitage-site
• रामाश्रमपदम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम + आश्रम + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (Rama's hermitage-place)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्धसूचक (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म (Appositional object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (refers to रामाश्रमपदम्)

Context

Transformed into a most beautiful deer in a moment, Maricha brightened the beautiful forest and Rama's hermitage.

Characters & Entities

• Mārīca
• Rāma
• Vana (forest)

FAQs

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

The verse underscores how adharma can ‘shine’ outwardly while aiming at harm. Dharma requires testing appearances against truth and consequences.

What is the narrative situation?

Mārīca completes the transformation and, by his brilliance, makes the surroundings appear more radiant—enhancing the bait.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discrimination (viveka) is emphasized indirectly: the more radiant the lure, the greater the need for careful judgment.