Shloka 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 ||
Sesaat ia terlihat, sesaat berikutnya ia tampak bercahaya dari kejauhan. Dengan demikian—muncul dan lenyap silih berganti—Mārīca yang menjelma menjadi rusa menarik Rāghava jauh dari pertapaan itu.
Then Rama killed another deer, collected the venison and hastened to Janasthana.ইত্যার্ষে শ্রীমদ্রামাযণে বাল্মীকীয আদিকাব্যে অরণ্যকাণ্ডে চতুশ্চত্বারিংশস্সর্গঃ৷Thus ends the fortyfourth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.
FAQs
It highlights how adharma operates through distraction and distance—separating protectors from those they must protect. Dharma includes safeguarding duties without being lured away by illusion.
Mārīca’s deer-form strategically alternates visibility to lead Rāma far from the hermitage.
Implicitly, the need for prudence and protective responsibility (rakṣaṇa-dharma), even when confronted with enticing appearances.