Shloka 3.43.20
मायामृगदर्शनम् (The Vision of the Illusory Deer)
कामवृत्तमिदं रौद्रं स्त्रीणामसदृशं मतम्।वपुषा त्वस्य सत्त्वस्य विस्मयो जनितो मम।।।।
tena kāñcanavarṇena maṇipravaraśṛṅgiṇā | taruṇādityavarṇena nakṣatrapathavarcasā || babhūva rāghavasyāpi mano vismayam āgatam |
With its golden hue, its horns set with excellent gems, its color like the young rising sun, and its radiance like the starry path—even Rāghava’s mind was filled with astonishment.
This kind of request arising out of a woman's desire may sound terrible, still then the beauty of this animal's skin has produced in me a wonder.
Even the righteous can be momentarily shaken by dazzling appearances. Dharma requires steadiness (dhṛti) and discernment when confronted by illusion and sensory splendor.
The poet describes the deer’s supernatural beauty and notes that even Rāma is astonished.
Rāma’s human susceptibility is shown—setting up a moral test where discernment must govern action.