Shloka 2
मायामृगदर्शनम्
The Vision of the Illusory Deer
सा तं सम्प्रेक्ष्य सुश्रोणी कुसुमान्यपचिन्वती।हेमराजतवर्णाभ्यां पार्श्वाभ्यामुपशोभितम्।।3.43.1।।प्रहृष्टा चानवद्याङ्गी मृष्टहाटकवर्णिनी।भर्तारमपि चक्रन्द लक्ष्मणं चापि सायुधम्।।3.43.2।।
sā taṁ samprekṣya suśroṇī kusumāny apacinvatī | hemarājatavarṇābhyāṁ pārśvābhyām upaśobhitam || prahṛṣṭā cānavadyāṅgī mṛṣṭahāṭakavarṇinī | bhartāram api cakranda lakṣmaṇaṁ cāpi sāyudham ||
花を摘みつつあったシーターは—腰はしなやかで、四肢に瑕なく、純金のように輝く—その鹿を見とめた。両脇には金と銀の色が差し、いよいよ美しかった。喜びに満ちて、彼女は夫君を呼び、また武具を帯びて備えるラクシュマナをも呼んだ。
O Lakshmana, see the eagerness of Sita. Such a deer of exceptional beauty will not be found in this forest. There is no equal to this animal even in the Nandan garden of Indra, or the Chaitraratha, the garden of Kubera. Where can such an animal be found on earth?
FAQs
The verse sets up how sensory attraction can initiate moral trial. Dharma teaching: be cautious when delight arises from the extraordinary, because it can precede deception and danger.
Sītā, collecting flowers, sees the dazzling deer and calls to Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.
Alertness and preparedness are implied through Lakṣmaṇa being armed, reflecting the protective vigilance expected in exile.