Shloka 3.43.5

मायामृगदर्शनम् (The Vision of the Illusory Deer)

Devanagari script

चरन्तोमृगयां हृष्टाः पापेनोपाधिना वने।अनेन निहता राजन् राजानः कामरूपिणा।।।।

Transliteration

caranto mṛgayāṃ hṛṣṭāḥ pāpenopādhinā vane | anena nihatā rājan rājānaḥ kāmarūpiṇā ||

Translation

O King, many kings—delighting as they roamed the forest on the hunt—have been slain by this shape-shifter through sinful deception.

Context

Many kings, while on hunting expedition in the forest, have been deceitfully killed by malicious Maricha, who could assume any form at his free will.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Mārīca
• Forest (vana)
• Kings (rājānaḥ)

FAQs

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

Dharma condemns deceitful violence: killing through trickery (upādhi) is explicitly framed as pāpa (sin), not heroic strength.

What is the narrative situation?

Mārīca describes the lethal success of deceptive, shape-shifting tactics in the forest to persuade or inform his king (Rāvaṇa).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Negative exemplification: the verse highlights the vice of deceit (māyā/upādhi) as a hallmark of adharmic conduct.