Shloka 21

मायामृगप्रकरणम्

The Illusory Deer Episode: Ravana and Maricha at Rama’s Hermitage

Devanagari script

मनोहरं दर्शनीयं रूपं कृत्वा स राक्षसः।।3.42.20।।प्रलोभनार्थं वैदेह्या नानाधातुविचित्रितम्।विचरन्गच्छते तस्माच्छाद्वलानि समन्ततः।।3.42.21।।

Transliteration

pralobhanārthaṃ vaidehyā nānādhātuvicitritam |

vicaran gacchate tasmāc chādvalāni samantataḥ || 3.42.21 ||

Translation

വൈദേഹിയെ പ്രലോഭിപ്പിക്കാനായി വിവിധ ധാതുവർണങ്ങളാൽ വിചിത്രമായി അലങ്കരിക്കപ്പെട്ടവനായി, അവിടെ ചുറ്റുമുള്ള പച്ചപ്പുല്ലുമൈതാനങ്ങളിൽ മേയുകയും സഞ്ചരിക്കുകയും ചെയ്തു.

Word by Word

• रूप्यैः: with silver (spots)
• रूप्यैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; (silver)

• बिन्दुशतैः: with hundreds of dots
• बिन्दुशतैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिन्दु + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (hundreds of spots)

• चित्रः: variegated, wondrous
• चित्रः: विशेषण (Predicate adjective of कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); पूर्वकाल (having become)

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रियदर्शनः: pleasing to behold
• प्रियदर्शनः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier of कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (one whose appearance is pleasing)

• विटपीनाम्: of trees
• विटपीनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विटपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• किसलयान्: tender shoots/leaves
• किसलयान्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किसलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• भङ्क्त्वा: having nibbled/broken
• भङ्क्त्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भञ्ज् (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त; पूर्वकाल (having broken/nibbled)

• अदन्: eating
• अदन्: कर्तृसम्बन्धी क्रियाविशेषण (Concomitant action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अद् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि (eating)

• विचचार: wandered
• विचचार: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + चर् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ह: indeed
• ह: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle, emphasis/indeed)

Context

Transfigured into a beautiful, magnificent form painted with the colours of different minerals in order to tempt Sita, Maricha roamed all around the grassland.

Characters & Entities

• Vaidehī (Sītā)
• Mārīca

FAQs

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

Dharma is contrasted with manipulation: tempting another through crafted illusion violates satya (truthfulness) and right intention, showing how moral harm can be initiated through desire and enticement.

What is the narrative situation?

Mārīca, disguised as a wondrous deer, deliberately parades near the hermitage to catch Sītā’s attention.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-restraint (dama): the implied virtue needed to resist fascination with enticing objects that may conceal danger.