Shloka 35
मायामृगप्रकरणम्
The Illusory Deer Episode: Ravana and Maricha at Rama’s Hermitage
अदृष्टपूर्वं तं दृष्ट्वा नानारत्नमयं मृगम्।।3.42.35।।विस्मयं परमं सीता जगाम जनकात्मजा।
adṛṣṭapūrvaṁ taṁ dṛṣṭvā nānāratnamayaṁ mṛgam | vismayaṁ paramaṁ sītā jagāma janakātmajā || 3.42.35 ||
Seeing that deer—never seen before, studded with many kinds of gems—Sītā, Janaka’s daughter, was filled with the greatest astonishment.
Act according to my wish. It befits your valour. You were a different demon earlier. Now you are Maricha.
FAQs
The verse underscores the need for steadiness of mind: wonder at rare objects can cloud judgment, so dharma depends on inner discipline and truth-oriented discernment.
Sītā becomes deeply captivated by the unprecedented jeweled deer, which will soon prompt her request to capture it.
Innocent openness—Sītā’s receptive, trusting nature, which (in the narrative) becomes vulnerable to deception.