Shloka 26
मायामृगप्रकरणम्
The Illusory Deer Episode: Ravana and Maricha at Rama’s Hermitage
विक्रीडंश्च क्वचिद्भूमौ पुनरेव निषीदति।आश्रमद्वारमागम्य मृगयूथानि गच्छति।।3.42.26।।
vikrīḍaṃś ca kvacid bhūmau punar eva niṣīdati |
āśramadvāram āgamya mṛgayūthāni gacchati || 3.42.26 ||
ពេលខ្លះ វាលេងលើដី ហើយអង្គុយចុះម្តងទៀត។ ពេលមកដល់មាត់ទ្វារអាស្រម វាក៏ដើរទៅជាមួយហ្វូងម្រឹគទាំងឡាយ។
The deer is now sporting, now sitting on the ground, now standing at the entrance ofthe hermitage and now running with the herds of deer.
FAQs
Dharma includes respecting boundaries; the verse shows deceptive evil drawing near the threshold of safety, reminding that vigilance is needed precisely at points of entry and transition.
The illusory deer plays, rests, and even comes to the hermitage entrance, blending with real deer herds to appear natural.
Guardianship (rakṣaṇa): maintaining protective awareness at the ‘door’—literal and moral—where danger can enter.