Shloka 14
मायामृगदर्शनम्
The Vision of the Illusory Deer
अहो रूपमहो लक्ष्मीस्स्वरसम्पच्च शोभना।मृगोऽद्भुतो विचित्राङ्गो हृदयं हरतीव मे।।।।
aho rūpam aho lakṣmīḥ svara-sampac ca śobhanā |
mṛgo 'dbhuto vicitrāṅgo hṛdayaṃ haratīva me ||
ああ、なんという姿！ああ、なんという美しさ――そして、なんと甘やかに満ちた声であろう！この不思議な肢体をもつ妙なる鹿は、まるで私の心を奪ってゆくようだ。
Oh what a beauty, Oh what rich call ! what delightful, wonderful, graceful limbs ! This deer captivates my heart.
FAQs
The verse demonstrates how attachment can arise suddenly through the senses. Dharma emphasizes mastery over impulse so that desire does not override safety, duty, and discernment.
Sītā openly expresses enchantment with the deer’s beauty and call, emotionally motivating the request that Rāma pursue it.
The scene implicitly calls for the virtue of self-restraint (dama): the capacity to admire without being compelled.