Shloka 3.43.25
मायामृगदर्शनम् (The Vision of the Illusory Deer)
पश्य लक्ष्मण वैदेह्याः स्पृहां मृगगतामिमाम्।रूपश्रेष्ठतया ह्येष मृगोऽद्य न भविष्यति।।3.43.24।।न वने नन्दनोद्धेशे न चैत्ररथसंश्रये।कुतःपृथिव्यां सौमित्रे योऽस्य कश्चित्समो मृगः।।3.43.25।।
paśya lakṣmaṇa vaidehyāḥ spṛhāṃ mṛgagatām imām |
rūpaśreṣṭhatayā hy eṣa mṛgo 'dya na bhaviṣyati || 3.43.24 ||
Look, Lakṣmaṇa, at Vaidehī’s longing fixed upon this deer. By the sheer excellence of its beauty, no such deer is to be found today in this forest.
O Lakshmana, see the eagerness of Sita. Such a deer of exceptional beauty will not be found in this forest. There is no equal to this animal even in the Nandan garden of Indra, or the Chaitraratha, the garden of Kubera. Where can such an animal be found on earth?
The verse highlights the need for discernment (viveka) when desire arises. Dharma is protected when one observes desire clearly and does not let it override judgment or duty.
In the Pañcavaṭī forest, Sītā becomes captivated by the extraordinary deer (Mārīca in disguise). Rāma points out her eagerness to Lakṣmaṇa while assessing the deer’s unusual beauty.
Rāma’s attentiveness and reflective observation are emphasized—he notices Sītā’s longing and evaluates the situation rather than responding blindly.