Shloka 12

मारीचवधः — The Slaying of Maricha

Golden Deer Deception

Devanagari script

पुनरेव ततो दूराद्वृक्षषण्डाद्विनिस्सृतम्।दृष्ट्वा रामो महातेजास्तं हन्तुं कृतनिश्चयः।।।।

Transliteration

punar eva tato dūrād vṛkṣaṣaṇḍād vinissṛtam | dṛṣṭvā rāmo mahātejās taṃ hantuṃ kṛtaniścayaḥ ||

Translation

ನಂತರ ಮತ್ತೆ ದೂರದಿಂದ, ಮರಗಳ ಗುಂಪಿನಿಂದ ಹೊರಬರುತ್ತಿರುವುದನ್ನು ಕಂಡು, ಮಹಾತೇಜಸ್ವಿ ರಾಮನು ಅದನ್ನು ಸಂಹರಿಸಲು ದೃಢನಿಶ್ಚಯ ಮಾಡಿದನು.

Word by Word

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्तिवाचक

• एव: indeed
• एव: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण

• ततः: then/from there
• ततः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/क्रमवाचक (then/from there)

• दूरात्: from afar
• दूरात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (दूरम्), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; ‘from a distance’

• वृक्षषण्डात्: from a clump of trees
• वृक्षषण्डात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्ष-षण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (वृक्षाणां षण्डः)

• विनिस्सृतम्: having emerged
• विनिस्सृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-नि-√सृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘having come out’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (तम् विशेषणम्)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund)

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• महातेजाः: greatly radiant
• महातेजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महातेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (महत् तेजः यस्य)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हन्तुम्: to kill
• हन्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive)

• कृतनिश्चयः: having resolved/determined
• कृतनिश्चयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत-निश्चय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्ताधारित विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कृतः निश्चयः येन)

Context

Resplendent Rama saw the deer coming out of a cluster of trees at a distance and determined to kill him.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Mārīca (as deer; implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma often requires firm decision once a course is judged necessary; yet the episode also warns that decisions should be grounded in truth, not in an illusion’s provocation.

What is the narrative situation?

The deer reappears at a distance; Rāma, now intent on ending the chase, decides to kill it.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s decisiveness and protective readiness—he chooses a conclusive action rather than prolonged pursuit.