Shloka 3.43.22
मायामृगदर्शनम् (The Vision of the Illusory Deer)
एवं सीतावचः श्रुत्वा तं दृष्ट्वा मृगमद्भुतम्।।।।लोभितस्तेन रूपेण सीतया च प्रचोदितः।उवाच राघवो हृष्टो भ्रातरं लक्ष्मणं वचः।।।।
evaṁ sītāvacaḥ śrutvā taṁ dṛṣṭvā mṛgam adbhutam | lobhitas tena rūpeṇa sītayā ca pracoditaḥ | uvāca rāghavo hṛṣṭo bhrātaraṁ lakṣmaṇaṁ vacaḥ ||
Hearing Sītā and beholding the marvelous deer, Rāma—drawn by its beauty and encouraged by her—addressed Lakṣmaṇa with eager words.
On hearing Sita's words and seeing the wonderful deer, Rama was tempted by its appearance.Prompted by Sita,he joyfully said this to Lakshmana:
The recensional repetition underscores the moral hazard: temptation can be strong enough to merit emphasis, reminding readers to guard discernment repeatedly.
This verse reiterates the same transition: Rāma is moved to speak to Lakṣmaṇa after Sītā’s urging and the deer’s allure.
The virtue at stake is wise judgment (viveka); the text highlights how easily it can be clouded.