Shloka 3.44.13
मारीचवधः — The Slaying of Maricha (Golden Deer Deception)
भूयस्तु शरमुद्धृत्य कुपितस्तत्र राघवः।सूर्यरश्मिप्रतीकाशं ज्वलन्तमरिमर्दनः।।।।सन्धाय सुदृढे चापे विकृष्य बलवद्बली।तमेव मृगमुद्दिश्य श्वसन्तमिव पन्नगम्।।।।मुमोच ज्वलितं दीप्तमस्त्रं ब्रह्मविनिर्मितम्।
bhūyas tu śaram uddhṛtya kupitas tatra rāghavaḥ | sūryaraśmipratīkāśaṃ jvalantam arimardanaḥ ||
saṃdhāya sudṛḍhe cāpe vikṛṣya balavad balī | tam eva mṛgam uddiśya śvasantam iva pannagam ||
mumoca jvalitaṃ dīptam astraṃ brahmavinirmitam |
Then Rāghava, enraged, lifted an arrow blazing like the sun’s rays. The mighty destroyer of foes set it upon his firm bow, drew with full force, and aiming at that deer, released the burning, radiant missile—Brahmā’s own creation—hissing like a serpent.
Powerful Rama, destroyer of foes, lifted in a rage his arrow blazing like the light of the Sun, strung it to his sturdy bow and drew it with all his force. He then aimed at the deer and released the shining arrow created by Brahma which went hissing like a serpent.
Dharma includes the rightful use of power: the warrior’s force and sacred weapons must be applied decisively to end a threat—yet the broader episode reminds that even righteous power can be drawn into a trap if truth is obscured.
Rāma, angered by the deer’s repeated evasions, draws his bow and releases a blazing divine missile fashioned by Brahmā toward the deer.
Rāma’s martial excellence and resolve—focused aim, strength, and the capacity to act decisively when he judges force necessary.