Shloka 15

मारीचवधः — The Slaying of Maricha

Golden Deer Deception

Devanagari script

शरीरं मृगरूपस्य विनिर्भिद्य शरोत्तमः।।।।मारीचस्यैव हृदयं बिभेदाशनिसन्निभः।

Transliteration

śarīraṃ mṛgarūpasya vinirbhidya śarottamaḥ | mārīcasyaiva hṛdayaṃ bibhēdāśanisannibhaḥ ||

Translation

Превосходная стрела, подобная молнии, пронзила тело принявшего облик оленя и рассекла самое сердце Маричи.

Word by Word

• तालमात्रम्: a palm-tree’s height
• तालमात्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताल-मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (तालस्य मात्रम्)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक (then)

• उत्प्लुत्य: having leapt
• उत्प्लुत्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-√प्लु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund) ‘having leapt up’

• न्यपतत्: fell down
• न्यपतत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√पत् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सशरातुरः: pained by the arrow
• सशरातुरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-शर-आतुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शरेण आतुरः) उपपद-समासः; ‘wounded by the arrow’

• विनदन्: uttering/roaring
• विनदन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√नद् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (Present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भैरवम्: terrifying
• भैरवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भैरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (नादम् विशेषणम्)

• नादम्: sound/cry
• नादम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• धरण्याम्: on the ground
• धरण्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• अल्पजीवितः: with little life left
• अल्पजीवितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प-जीवित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (अल्पं जीवितं यस्य)

Context

Powerful Rama, destroyer of foes, lifted in a rage his arrow blazing like the light of the Sun, strung it to his sturdy bow and drew it with all his force. He then aimed at the deer and released the shining arrow created by Brahma which went hissing like a serpent.

Characters & Entities

• Mārīca
• Rāma (implied as archer)
• śara (arrow)

FAQs

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

Adharma rooted in deception culminates in inevitable consequence; dharma’s protective force ultimately pierces through false appearances, restoring truth (satya) to the situation.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma’s arrow strikes true: the ‘deer’ is revealed as Mārīca, and the missile pierces his body and heart.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s unfailing marksmanship and the effectiveness of righteous protection—though the larger plot impact (Sītā’s abduction) unfolds from this moment.