Shloka 24

मायामृगदर्शनम्

The Vision of the Illusory Deer

Devanagari script

पश्य लक्ष्मण वैदेह्याः स्पृहां मृगगतामिमाम्।रूपश्रेष्ठतया ह्येष मृगोऽद्य न भविष्यति।।।।न वने नन्दनोद्धेशे न चैत्ररथसंश्रये।कुतःपृथिव्यां सौमित्रे योऽस्य कश्चित्समो मृगः।।।।

Transliteration

paśya lakṣmaṇa vaidehyāḥ spṛhāṁ mṛgagatām imām | rūpaśreṣṭhatayā hy eṣa mṛgo 'dya na bhaviṣyati || na vane nandanoddeśe na caitrarathasaṁśraye | kutaḥ pṛthivyāṁ saumitre yo 'sya kaścit samo mṛgaḥ ||

Translation

നോക്കുക, ലക്ഷ്മണാ, വൈദേഹിയുടെ ഈ മാൻമേലുള്ള ആഗ്രഹം എങ്ങനെ പതിഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്നു! രൂപശ്രേഷ്ഠതയിൽ ഇത്തരമൊരു മൃഗം ഇന്ന് എവിടെയും ഇല്ല—ഈ വനത്തിലും അല്ല, ഇന്ദ്രന്റെ നന്ദനോദ്യാനത്തിലും അല്ല, കുബേരന്റെ ചൈത്രരഥവനവിഹാരത്തിലും അല്ല. അങ്ങനെ ആണെങ്കിൽ, സൗമിത്രേ, ഭൂമിയിൽ ഇതിന് തുല്യമായ മാൻ എവിടെ ഉണ്ടാകും?

Word by Word

• प्रतिलोमाः: against the grain (reverse-directed)
• प्रतिलोमाः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतिलोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; रोमराजयः इति पदस्य विशेषणम्

• अनुलोमाः: with the grain (naturally directed)
• अनुलोमाः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुलोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; रोमराजयः इति पदस्य विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• रुचिराः: beautiful
• रुचिराः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुचिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; रोमराजयः इति पदस्य विशेषणम्

• रोमराजयः: rows of hair
• रोमराजयः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोम-राजि (प्रातिपदिक; रोम + राजि)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: रोम्णां राजयः (rows/lines of hair); स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• शोभन्ते: shine, look splendid
• शोभन्ते: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम

• मृगम्: the deer
• मृगम्: आश्रय (Object of gerund/आश्रय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आश्रित्य: having resorted to
• आश्रित्य: पूर्वकाल (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-श्रि (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; अर्थः: ‘having resorted to/depending on’

• चित्राः: variegated, striking
• चित्राः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कनकबिन्दवः इति पदस्य विशेषणम्

• कनकबिन्दवः: golden spots
• कनकबिन्दवः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कनक-बिन्दु (प्रातिपदिक; कनक + बिन्दु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: कनकस्य बिन्दवः (spots of gold); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Context

On hearing Sita's words and seeing the wonderful deer, Rama was tempted by its appearance.Prompted by Sita,he joyfully said this to Lakshmana:

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa (Saumitrī)
• Sītā (Vaidehī)
• Nandana (Indra’s garden)
• Caitraratha (Kubera’s garden)
• Indra
• Kubera
• earth (pṛthivī)
• forest (vana)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is tested by fascination: admiration for beauty can rationalize risky action. The lesson is to prioritize protective duty and clear judgment over extraordinary appearances.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma speaks to Lakṣmaṇa about Sītā’s intense desire for the deer, praising its unmatched beauty and thereby justifying the pursuit.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s attentiveness to Sītā’s feelings is evident; simultaneously, the episode highlights the needed virtue of prudence in leadership decisions.