Shloka 25
मायामृगदर्शनम्
The Vision of the Illusory Deer
पश्य लक्ष्मण वैदेह्याः स्पृहां मृगगतामिमाम्।रूपश्रेष्ठतया ह्येष मृगोऽद्य न भविष्यति।।3.43.24।।न वने नन्दनोद्धेशे न चैत्ररथसंश्रये।कुतःपृथिव्यां सौमित्रे योऽस्य कश्चित्समो मृगः।।3.43.25।।
na vane nandanoddeśe na caitrarathasaṃśraye |
kutaḥ pṛthivyāṃ saumitre yo 'sya kaścit samo mṛgaḥ || 3.43.25 ||
न वने नन्दनोद्धेशे न चैत्ररथसंश्रये। कुतः पृथिव्यां सौमित्रे योऽस्य कश्चित्समो मृगः॥
The stretches of hair on the deer's body bent both in the natural order and in the opposite direction look beautiful. The spots of gold on the skin are wonderful.
FAQs
Dharma calls for caution when something appears unnaturally extraordinary. The verse implicitly warns that fascination with marvels can cloud truth (satya) and prudent conduct.
Rāma underscores to Lakṣmaṇa that the deer’s beauty is beyond even celestial gardens, intensifying the sense that it is extraordinary and potentially deceptive.
Rāma’s evaluative intelligence and awareness—he compares the sight against known standards (even divine realms) to judge its rarity.