Shloka 48

मायामृगदर्शनम्

The Vision of the Illusory Deer

Devanagari script

अप्रमत्तेन ते भाव्यमाश्रमस्थेन सीतया।।।।यावत्पृषतमेकेन सायकेन निहन्म्यहम्।हत्वैतच्चर्म चादाय शीघ्रमेष्यामि लक्ष्मण।।।।

Transliteration

apramattena te bhāvyam āśramasthena sītayā | yāvat pṛṣatam ekena sāyakena nihanmy aham | hatvaitac carma cādāya śīghram eṣyāmi lakṣmaṇa ||

Translation

เจ้าจงอยู่ ณ อาศรมนี้กับนางสีตาโดยไม่ประมาท เฝ้าระวังให้มั่น เราจักสังหารกวางลายจุดนั้นด้วยศรเพียงดอกเดียว แล้วนำหนังของมันมา และจักกลับมาโดยเร็ว โอ ลักษมณะ

Word by Word

• अप्रमत्तेन: being vigilant
• अप्रमत्तेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्रमत्त (प्रातिपदिक; √मद् with अ- + प्र-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies implied 'त्वया')

• ते: your/for you
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-एकवचन; अत्र षष्ठी (Genitive): 'of you/your'

• भाव्यम्: must be (done) / you should be
• भाव्यम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive: ought to be), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (impersonal obligation)

• आश्रमस्थेन: staying in the hermitage
• आश्रमस्थेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आश्रम + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies implied 'त्वया')

• सीतया: with Sītā
• सीतया: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• यावत्: until
• यावत्: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधि-वाचक-अव्यय (until)

• पृषतम्: the speckled deer/antelope
• पृषतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृषत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एकेन: with one (single)
• एकेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies 'सायकेन')

• सायकेन: with an arrow
• सायकेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सायके (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• निहन्मि: I kill
• निहन्मि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: नि-

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Context

Keep vigil over Sita at the hermitage, O Lakshmana ! I will certainly kill the speckled antelope with a single arrow, get his skin and come back quickly.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sītā
• Hermitage (āśrama)
• Arrow (sāyaka)

FAQs

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

Dharma is sustained by vigilance: when one duty calls you away, you must ensure protection and attentiveness remain with those entrusted to you.

What is the narrative situation?

Before pursuing the deer, Rāma assigns Lakṣmaṇa the explicit task of guarding Sītā at the hermitage and promises a swift return.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Pramāda-rahitatā (freedom from negligence): Lakṣmaṇa is urged to be apramatta—constantly alert.