Shloka 3.43.2
मायामृगदर्शनम् (The Vision of the Illusory Deer)
सा तं सम्प्रेक्ष्य सुश्रोणी कुसुमान्यपचिन्वती।हेमराजतवर्णाभ्यां पार्श्वाभ्यामुपशोभितम्।।3.43.1।।प्रहृष्टा चानवद्याङ्गी मृष्टहाटकवर्णिनी।भर्तारमपि चक्रन्द लक्ष्मणं चापि सायुधम्।।3.43.2।।
kāmavṛttam idaṁ raudraṁ strīṇām asadṛśaṁ matam | vapuṣā tv asya sattvasya vismayo janito mama ||
This wish, born of desire, may seem harsh and unseemly for a woman; yet the creature’s beauty has indeed awakened wonder in me.
Sita while plucking flowers Sita who had fine hips, flawless beautiful limbs and pure golden complexion felt delighted to see the deer with gold and silver colours on both sides of his body. She called out to Rama and Lakshmana who were equipped with arms.
A key dharmic moment: Sītā recognizes the impropriety of desire-driven demands. The lesson is that moral awareness should lead to restraint, not merely confession.
Sītā admits her request may be unbecoming, but explains it is driven by the deer’s extraordinary beauty.
Honest self-reflection (ātma-parīkṣā) is emphasized—she names her motive as desire.