Shloka 32

मायामृगप्रकरणम्

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

Devanagari script

अनर्हाऽरण्यवासस्य सा तं रत्नमयं मृगम्।।3.42.32।।मुक्तामणि विचित्राङ्गं ददर्श परमाङ्गना।

Transliteration

anarhā 'raṇyavāsasya sā taṁ ratnamayaṁ mṛgam | muktāmaṇivicitrāṅgaṁ dadarśa paramāṅganā || 3.42.32 ||

Translation

അരണ്യവാസത്തിന് അയോഗ്യയായ ആ പരമസതീ, രത്നമയമായും മുക്താമണികളാൽ വിചിത്രമായി അലങ്കരിച്ച അവയവങ്ങളുള്ള ആ മൃഗത്തെ കണ്ടു.

Word by Word

• anarhā: unfit/unworthy
• anarhā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an-arha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of sā/vaidehī)

• araṇyavāsasya: of forest-dwelling
• araṇyavāsasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: araṇya + vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (araṇyasya vāsaḥ), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tam: that
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ratnamayam: gem-encrusted
• ratnamayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ratna + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (ratnaiḥ mayaḥ/ratnamayaḥ), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of mṛgam)

• mṛgam: deer
• mṛgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• muktāmaṇi: pearls and gems
• muktāmaṇi: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muktā + maṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (muktāś ca maṇayaś ca), नपुंसकलिङ्गे अव्ययीभाववत्/अव्ययभावेन विशेषणार्थे (used as qualifier in compound phrase)

• vicitrāṅgam: with a variegated body
• vicitrāṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-citra + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (vicitram aṅgam yasya), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of mṛgam)

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• paramāṅganā: the noble lady
• paramāṅganā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama + aṅganā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition to sā

Context

Seeing such an unprecedented deer decorated with different gems, Sita, daughter of Janaka, stood amazed.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē dvicatvāriṅśassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the fortysecond sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• forest

FAQs

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

It implicitly warns that dazzling appearances can distract the mind; dharma requires discernment (viveka) amid temptation and wonder.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā sees the extraordinary, gem-like deer—an omen that initiates the chain of events leading to her abduction.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Refinement and nobility—Sītā is portrayed as a royal lady unsuited to harsh forest life.