Shloka 24
मायामृगदर्शनम्
The Vision of the Illusory Deer
पश्य लक्ष्मण वैदेह्याः स्पृहां मृगगतामिमाम्।रूपश्रेष्ठतया ह्येष मृगोऽद्य न भविष्यति।।।।न वने नन्दनोद्धेशे न चैत्ररथसंश्रये।कुतःपृथिव्यां सौमित्रे योऽस्य कश्चित्समो मृगः।।।।
paśya lakṣmaṇa vaidehyāḥ spṛhāṁ mṛgagatām imām | rūpaśreṣṭhatayā hy eṣa mṛgo 'dya na bhaviṣyati || na vane nandanoddeśe na caitrarathasaṁśraye | kutaḥ pṛthivyāṁ saumitre yo 'sya kaścit samo mṛgaḥ ||
見よ、ラクシュマナよ、ヴァイデーヒーの憧れがこの鹿に結びついているのを。美の卓越においてこれに並ぶものはない——この森にも、インドラのナンダナ苑にも、クベーラのチャイトララタの園にも、同じ鹿は見いだせぬ。ゆえに地上のどこに、サウミトリーよ、これに等しい鹿があろうか。
On hearing Sita's words and seeing the wonderful deer, Rama was tempted by its appearance.Prompted by Sita,he joyfully said this to Lakshmana:
FAQs
Dharma here is tested by fascination: admiration for beauty can rationalize risky action. The lesson is to prioritize protective duty and clear judgment over extraordinary appearances.
Rāma speaks to Lakṣmaṇa about Sītā’s intense desire for the deer, praising its unmatched beauty and thereby justifying the pursuit.
Rāma’s attentiveness to Sītā’s feelings is evident; simultaneously, the episode highlights the needed virtue of prudence in leadership decisions.