Shloka 3.44.18
मारीचवधः — The Slaying of Maricha (Golden Deer Deception)
म्रियमाणस्तु मारीचो जहौ तां कृत्रिमां तनुम्।।3.44.17।।स्मृत्वा तद्वचनं रक्षो दध्यौ केन तु लक्ष्मणम्।इह प्रस्थापयेत्सीता शून्ये तां रावणो हरेत्।।3.44.18।।
mriyamāṇas tu mārīco jahau tāṃ kṛtrimāṃ tanum |
smṛtvā tadvacanaṃ rakṣo dadhyau kena tu lakṣmaṇam |
iha prasthāpayet sītā śūnye tāṃ rāvaṇo haret ||
As he lay dying, Mārīca cast off that artificial body—the deer-form. Remembering Rāvaṇa’s instructions, the rākṣasa pondered: by what device might Sītā send Lakṣmaṇa away from here, so that Rāvaṇa could seize her when she is left alone?
Maricha gave up his false form of the deer and before breathing his last, remembered the words of Ravana. He thought over the means through which Sita could send Lakshmana to this spot so that Ravana would abduct her when she is alone.
The verse exposes adharma as calculated manipulation: it targets trust and duty (Sītā’s concern, Lakṣmaṇa’s loyalty) to engineer isolation and harm—highlighting why dharma requires discernment (viveka) alongside compassion.
Dying, Mārīca abandons the deer-form and mentally reviews Rāvaṇa’s scheme: to separate Lakṣmaṇa from Sītā so that Rāvaṇa can abduct her.
By contrast (through the villain’s plotting), the virtue implied is protective duty: Lakṣmaṇa’s guardianship and Sītā’s fidelity are precisely what the deception seeks to disrupt.