Shloka 13

मायामृगदर्शनम्

The Vision of the Illusory Deer

Devanagari script

नानावर्णविचित्राङ्गो रत्नबिन्दुसमाचितः।द्योतयन्वनमव्यग्रं शोभते शशिसन्निभः।।।।

Transliteration

nānā-varṇa-vicitrāṅgo ratna-bindu-samācitaḥ |

dyotayan vanam avyagraṃ śobhate śaśi-sannibhaḥ ||

Translation

‘നാനാവർണ്ണങ്ങളാൽ വിചിത്രമായ അവയവങ്ങളുള്ളതും, രത്നബിന്ദുക്കളെപ്പോലെ പുള്ളികളാൽ അലങ്കരിക്കപ്പെട്ടതും, ശാന്തമായ വനത്തെ പ്രകാശിപ്പിക്കുന്നതുമായ അത് ചന്ദ്രനെപ്പോലെ ശോഭിക്കുന്നു.’

Word by Word

• नानावर्णविचित्राङ्गः: having limbs of many varied colors
• नानावर्णविचित्राङ्गः: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना + वर्ण + विचित्र + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (whose limbs are variegated with many colors); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• रत्नबिन्दुसमाचितः: studded with gem-like spots
• रत्नबिन्दुसमाचितः: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत्न + बिन्दु + सम् + आ + चि (धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; कृदन्त: क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP) समाचित (adorned/strewn); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• द्योतयन्: illuminating
• द्योतयन्: Karta (कर्ता/agent participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: द्योतय् (धातु, णिच् causative of द्युत्)
• Form: कृदन्त: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समकालिक-क्रिया (while doing)

• वनम्: the forest
• वनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc/2nd), एकवचन

• अव्यग्रम्: calm/undisturbed
• अव्यग्रम्: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + व्यग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (वनम्-विशेषण)

• शोभते: shines/appears splendid
• शोभते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• शशिसन्निभः: moon-like
• शशिसन्निभः: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शशि + सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (like the moon); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

Context

Its body glittering with different colours, speckled with gems of different kinds, is like the Moon shining and illuminating the forest.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• moon (śaśin)
• forest (vana)

FAQs

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

Dharma requires vigilance against māyā: what appears luminous and beneficent may conceal harm. The verse is a study in how beauty can become a moral distraction.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā poetically describes the deer’s shimmering, moon-like radiance, intensifying the persuasive pull that will send Rāma after it.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s refined aesthetic sensitivity is evident, though the scene warns that even refined perception must be balanced by prudence.