Shloka 18

मारीचप्रलोभनम् / Ravana Solicits Maricha’s Aid

Golden Deer Stratagem

Devanagari script

सौवर्णस्त्वं मृगो भूत्वा चित्रो रजतबिन्दुभिः।आश्रमे तस्य रामस्य सीतायाः प्रमुखे चर।।।।

Transliteration

sauvarṇas tvaṃ mṛgo bhūtvā citro rajatabindubhiḥ |

āśrame tasya rāmasya sītāyāḥ pramukhe cara ||

Translation

നീ സ്വർണ്ണമയമായ മൃഗമായി, വെള്ളി ബിന്ദുക്കളാൽ ചിത്രിതമായ അത്ഭുതരൂപം ധരിക്ക; രാമന്റെ ആശ്രമത്തിൽ സീതാദേവിയുടെ മുമ്പിൽ സഞ്ചരിക്കു.

Word by Word

• सौवर्णः: golden
• सौवर्णः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (त्वम्/मृगः)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मृगः: a deer
• मृगः: Kartṛ-sāmānādhikaraṇya (कर्तृ-सामानाधिकरण्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), 'having become'

• चित्रः: variegated / wondrous
• चित्रः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• रजत-बिन्दुभिः: with silver spots
• रजत-बिन्दुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजत (प्रातिपदिक) + बिन्दु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (रजतस्य बिन्दवः), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; साधन/लक्षणे

• आश्रमे: in the hermitage
• आश्रमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तस्य: of that (one)
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रामस्य: of Rama
• रामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सीतायाः: of Sita
• सीतायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रमुखे: in front
• प्रमुखे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चर: move about / roam
• चर: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चर् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

Be a wonderful golden deer dappled with silver dots and roam in front of Sita in Rama's hermitage.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Mārīca
• āśrama (hermitage)

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates adharma through deliberate deception: using a false appearance to disturb a righteous household. Dharma is upheld by truthfulness and non-harm; this plan violates both.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa instructs Mārīca to assume the form of a dazzling golden deer so that Sītā will be drawn to it near Rāma’s forest dwelling.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast (through its violation), the virtue of satya (truth) is emphasized: the plot depends on falsehood, highlighting why truth is central to dharmic conduct.