Shloka 3.44.7
मारीचवधः — The Slaying of Maricha (Golden Deer Deception)
मुहुर्तादेव ददृशे मुहुर्दूरात्प्रकाशते।।।।दर्शनादर्शनादेवं सोऽपाकर्षत राघवम्।सुदूरमाश्रमस्यास्य मारीचो मृगतां गतः।।।।
muhūrtād eva dadṛśe muhur dūrāt prakāśate |
darśanādarśanād evaṃ so 'pākarṣata rāghavam |
sudūram āśramasyāsya mārīco mṛgatāṃ gataḥ ||
For a moment he was seen; again he appeared, shining from far away. Thus, by repeatedly appearing and disappearing, Mārīca—having taken the form of a deer—drew Rāghava far away, far from this hermitage.
Maricha, transformed into a deer, was seen now near, now far-off. He pulled Rama away from the hermitage through his exits and entrances.
It portrays adharma through deception (māyā): by manipulating perception, Mārīca attempts to separate Rāma from his protective duty toward Sītā and the āśrama, testing vigilance and right judgment.
The verse contrasts satya with illusion: the “deer” is not what it seems. The episode underscores that truth can be obscured by appearances, and that discernment is required to uphold righteous action.