Shloka 16

मायामृगदर्शनम्

The Vision of the Illusory Deer

Devanagari script

समाप्तवनवासानां राज्यस्थानां च नः पुनः।अन्तःपुरविभूषार्थो मृग एष भविष्यति।।।।

Transliteration

samāptavanavāsānāṁ rājyasthānāṁ ca naḥ punaḥ | antaḥpuravibhūṣārtho mṛga eṣa bhaviṣyati ||

Translation

ഞങ്ങളുടെ വനവാസം സമാപിച്ച് വീണ്ടും രാജ്യമുറപ്പിക്കുമ്പോൾ, ഈ മൃഗം അന്തഃപുരത്തെ അലങ്കരിക്കുന്ന ഒരു വിശേഷ വിഭൂഷണമാകും.

Word by Word

• समाप्तवनवासानाम्: of those whose forest-exile is completed
• समाप्तवनवासानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive: 'of those who...')
• Type: Noun
• Root: समाप्त + वनवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समास ('completed forest-dwelling'); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Gen/6th), बहुवचन

• राज्यस्थानाम्: of those established in the kingdom
• राज्यस्थानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (established in the kingdom); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Gen/6th), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• नः: for us/our
• नः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive: 'our')
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Gen/6th), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्ति-अव्यय (adverb)

• अन्तःपुरविभूषार्थः: an ornament for the harem (purpose)
• अन्तःपुरविभूषार्थः: Karta (कर्ता/predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तःपुर + विभूषा + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (for the purpose of adorning the inner apartments); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom/1st), एकवचन

• मृगः: the deer
• मृगः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एषः: this
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भविष्यति: will become
• भविष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

After the completion of exile in the forest, when we are back in the kingdom, this deer will add beauty to the harem.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• antaḥpura (inner apartments)

FAQs

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

It highlights how desire can project future pleasure and status, subtly challenging present dharma (the disciplined life of exile). The ethical lesson is vigilance: attractive objects can distract from one’s vowed path.

What is the narrative situation?

Seeing the extraordinary deer, Sītā imagines bringing it back after exile as a royal marvel to beautify the palace quarters.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s aesthetic sensitivity and longing for domestic prosperity are shown, alongside the implicit need for restraint within the duties of vanavāsa.