Shloka 3.57.1
मारीचवधोत्तरं रामस्य शङ्का-निमित्त-दर्शनं लक्ष्मण-निग्रहश्च (After Maricha’s Slaying: Omens, Anxiety, and Rama’s Rebuke of Lakshmana)
राक्षसं मृगरूपेण चरन्तं कामरूपिणम्।निहत्य रामो मारीचं तूर्णं पथि न्यवर्तत।।।।
rākṣasaṃ mṛgarūpeṇa carantaṃ kāmarūpiṇam |
nihatya rāmo mārīcaṃ tūrṇaṃ pathi nyavartata ||
After slaying Marīca—the rākṣasa who moved about in the guise of a deer and could assume forms at will—Rāma swiftly turned back along the path.
Rama killed Maricha, the demon assuming the form of the deer as per his will and swiftly took the return path.
Dharma requires removing harmful deception: Rāma eliminates a dangerous impostor who uses illusion to endanger others.
Rāma has shot and killed Marīca, who had taken the deer-form to lure him away, and Rāma immediately returns.
Decisiveness in protection: swift action against threat and immediate return to duty.