Shloka 17

मायामृगप्रकरणम्

The Illusory Deer Episode: Ravana and Maricha at Rama’s Hermitage

Devanagari script

कुन्देन्दुवज्रसङ्काशमुदरं चास्य भास्वरम्।मधूकनिभपार्श्वश्च पद्मकिञ्जल्कसन्निभः।।3.42.17।।वैडूर्यसङ्काशखुरस्तनुजङ्घस्सुसंहतः।

Transliteration

kundenduvajrasaṅkāśam udaraṃ cāsya bhāsvaram |

madhūkanibhapārśvaś ca padmakiñjalkasannibhaḥ ||3.42.17||

vaiḍūryasaṅkāśakhuras tanujaṅghaḥ susaṅhataḥ |

Translation

Son ventre rayonnant brillait comme la fleur kunda, la lune et le diamant; ses flancs étaient tels des fleurs de madhūka, semblable aux filaments du lotus. Ses sabots ressemblaient au vaidūrya; ses jambes étaient fines et son corps harmonieusement formé.

Word by Word

• कुन्देन्दुवज्रसङ्काशम्: resembling kunda, moon, and diamond (i.e., very white/bright)
• कुन्देन्दुवज्रसङ्काशम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier of कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुन्द + इन्दु + वज्र + सङ्काश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (kunda-moon-diamond-like)

• उदरम्: belly
• उदरम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्धसूचक (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• अस्य: of it / his
• अस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भास्वरम्: shining
• भास्वरम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier of कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भास्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying उदरम्)

• मधूकनिभपार्श्वः: having sides like madhūka blossoms
• मधूकनिभपार्श्वः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier of कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधूक + निभ + पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिसमासः (one whose sides are like madhūka)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्धसूचक (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• पद्मकिञ्जल्कसन्निभः: resembling lotus filaments
• पद्मकिञ्जल्कसन्निभः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier of कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्म + किञ्जल्क + सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिसमासः (one comparable to lotus-filaments)

• वैडूर्यसङ्काशखुरः: with hooves like vaidūrya (cat's-eye) gem
• वैडूर्यसङ्काशखुरः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier of कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैडूर्य + सङ्काश + खुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिसमासः (one whose hooves are like vaidūrya gem)

• तनुजङ्घः: slender-shanked
• तनुजङ्घः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier of कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तनु + जङ्घा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिसमासः (one with slender shanks)

• सुसंहतः: well-proportioned, compact
• सुसंहतः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier of कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + संहत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपसर्गपूर्वक-विशेषण (well-knit/compact)

Context

His bright belly was shining like kunda flowers or the Moon or diamond. His flanks were like the golden madhuka flowers. comparable to the filaments of lotus. His hooves were like vaidurya, and his legs were slim and will-shaped.

Characters & Entities

• Mārīca
• Mṛga (deer form)
• Kunda (flower)
• Indu (moon)
• Vajra (diamond)
• Padma (lotus)
• Vaidūrya (gem/cat’s-eye)

FAQs

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

It reinforces the ethical warning: sensory brilliance can mask danger. Dharma-based living values truth and prudence over glittering attraction.

What is the narrative situation?

The poem elaborates the deer’s supernatural beauty, built from floral and gem comparisons, to show how compelling the lure was.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence (apramāda) is the implied virtue—carefulness in judging what appears extraordinary.