Shloka 1

मायामृगदर्शनम्

The Vision of the Illusory Deer

Devanagari script

सा तं सम्प्रेक्ष्य सुश्रोणी कुसुमान्यपचिन्वती।हेमराजतवर्णाभ्यां पार्श्वाभ्यामुपशोभितम्।।।।प्रहृष्टा चानवद्याङ्गी मृष्टहाटकवर्णिनी।भर्तारमपि चक्रन्द लक्ष्मणं चापि सायुधम्।।।।

Transliteration

sā taṃ samprekṣya suśroṇī kusumāny apacinvatī |

hema-rājata-varṇābhyāṃ pārśvābhyām upaśobhitam ||

prahṛṣṭā cānavadyāṅgī mṛṣṭa-hāṭaka-varṇinī |

bhartāram api cakranda lakṣmaṇaṃ cāpi sāyudham ||

Translation

花を摘んでいたシーターは、細き腰をもち、肢体に瑕なく、清らかな黄金の光を帯びて、両脇に金銀の色をまとい美しく飾られたその鹿を見とめた。喜びに満ちて、夫君と、武器を携えて立つラクシュマナとを呼びかけた。

Word by Word

• सा: she
• सा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom. 1st), एकवचन (sg.)

• तम्: that (deer/one)
• तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2nd), एकवचन (sg.)

• सम्प्रेक्ष्य: having seen
• सम्प्रेक्ष्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Adverbial to main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+प्रेक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having seen/after looking at’

• सुश्रोणी: the fair-hipped woman
• सुश्रोणी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु+श्रोणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom. 1st), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषणरूपेण ‘सा’ इत्यस्य

• कुसुमानि: flowers
• कुसुमानि: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुसुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2nd), बहुवचन (pl.)

• अपचिन्वती: picking (gathering)
• अपचिन्वती: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; participial qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप+चि (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (Present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन (sg.); ‘सा’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• हेमराजतवर्णाभ्याम्: with gold-and-silver color
• हेमराजतवर्णाभ्याम्: करण (Karaṇa/Instrumental descriptor)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेम+राजत+वर्ण (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-सम्भव (adj.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instr. 3rd), द्विवचन (du.); ‘पार्श्वाभ्याम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• पार्श्वाभ्याम्: by/with (its) two sides
• पार्श्वाभ्याम्: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instr. 3rd), द्विवचन (du.)

• उपशोभितम्: adorned/beautifully embellished
• उपशोभितम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; adjectival)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप+शुभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc.), एकवचन (sg.); ‘तम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Context

Sita while plucking flowers Sita who had fine hips, flawless beautiful limbs and pure golden complexion felt delighted to see the deer with gold and silver colours on both sides of his body. She called out to Rama and Lakshmana who were equipped with arms.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

The verse foregrounds how sensory attraction can redirect attention. Dharmic living requires vigilance (apramāda), especially in the forest exile where protection and discernment are continual duties.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā, while picking flowers, sees the magical deer and excitedly calls to Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, initiating the chain of events that will separate them.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s role as an armed protector is highlighted, pointing to the kṣatriya-aligned virtue of guardianship (rakṣaṇa) within the exile household.