Shloka 3.43.34

मायामृगदर्शनम् (The Vision of the Illusory Deer)

Devanagari script

एतस्य मृगरत्नस्य परार्ध्ये काञ्चनत्वचि।उपवेक्ष्यति वैदेही मया सह सुमध्यमा।।3.43.34।।

Transliteration

etasya mṛgaratnasya parārdhye kāñcanatvaci | upavekṣyati vaidehī mayā saha sumadhyamā || 3.43.34 ||

Translation

Vaidehī—slender-waisted Sītā—will sit with me upon the splendid, golden hide of this jewel-like deer.

Characters & Entities

• Vaidehī (Sītā)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The verse highlights the subtle ethical tension between desire and discernment: an attractive object is imagined as a source of domestic comfort, yet Dharma requires vigilance so that personal longing does not override prudent judgment.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama, captivated by the extraordinary deer, imagines using its hide as a precious seat for Sītā, indicating his growing resolve to obtain it.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Affectionate devotion to Sītā is emphasized—Rama frames the deer’s value in terms of Sītā’s comfort—though the episode also foreshadows the need for विवेक (discernment).