Shloka 13

मायामृगप्रकरणम्

The Illusory Deer Episode: Ravana and Maricha at Rama’s Hermitage

Devanagari script

एतदाश्रमपदं दृश्यते कदलीवृतम्।क्रियतां तत्सखे शीघ्रं यदर्थं वयमागताः।।3.42.13।।

Transliteration

etad āśramapadaṃ dṛśyate kadalīvṛtam |

kriyatāṃ tat sakhe śīghraṃ yadarthaṃ vayam āgatāḥ ||3.42.13||

Translation

“ดูเถิด ที่ตั้งอาศรมนี้ปรากฏอยู่ ล้อมรอบด้วยกอกล้วยทั้งหลาย สหายเอ๋ย จงเร่งกระทำกิจนั้นโดยไว ซึ่งเป็นเหตุให้เรามาที่นี่”

Word by Word

• etat: this
• etat: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; used adjectivally

• āśrama-padam: hermitage-site
• āśrama-padam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśrama (प्रातिपदिक) + pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (āśramasya padam = site of the hermitage)

• dṛśyate: is seen/appears
• dṛśyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): ‘is seen/appears’

• kadalī-vṛtam: surrounded by banana plants
• kadalī-vṛtam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kadalī (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛta (कृदन्त, √vṛ धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (kadalībhiḥ vṛtam = surrounded by banana plants)

• kriyatām: let it be done
• kriyatām: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग: ‘let it be done’

• tat: that (thing)
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; refers to the task/purpose

• sakhe: O friend
• sakhe: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sakhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• śīghram: quickly
• śīghram: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śīghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय

• yad-artham: for which purpose
• yad-artham: Hetu/Prayojana (हेतु/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन used adverbially; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (yasya arthaḥ = for which purpose)

• vayam: we
• vayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• āgatāḥ: (have) come
• āgatāḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; with implied ‘smaḥ’: ‘have come’

Context

O friend! here is the site of the hermitage surrounded by banana plants. Quickly get to work on the purpose for which we have come.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Mārīca
• Āśramapada (hermitage site)

FAQs

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

Dharma is contrasted with deliberate harmful intent: the āśrama symbolizes peace and restraint, while the command urges swift execution of a deceitful purpose—showing how adharma often begins with intention (saṅkalpa) and urgency.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa points out Rāma’s hermitage and instructs Mārīca to begin the planned ruse immediately.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse indirectly emphasizes the āśrama ideal—simplicity and sanctity—by placing it against Rāvaṇa’s manipulative resolve.