Shloka 12

मारीचवधः — The Slaying of Maricha

Golden Deer Deception

Devanagari script

पुनरेव ततो दूराद्वृक्षषण्डाद्विनिस्सृतम्।दृष्ट्वा रामो महातेजास्तं हन्तुं कृतनिश्चयः।।।।

Transliteration

punar eva tato dūrād vṛkṣaṣaṇḍād vinissṛtam | dṛṣṭvā rāmo mahātejās taṃ hantuṃ kṛtaniścayaḥ ||

Translation

แล้วอีกครั้ง จากที่ไกล พระรามผู้เปล่งรัศมีทอดพระเนตรเห็นมันโผล่ออกมาจากพุ่มไม้หนาทึบ และทรงตั้งพระทัยแน่วแน่จะประหารมัน

Word by Word

पुनःagain

एवindeed

ततःthen/from there

दूरात्from afar

वृक्षषण्डात्from a clump of trees

विनिस्सृतम्having emerged

दृष्ट्वाhaving seen

रामःRama

महातेजाःgreatly radiant

तम्him

हन्तुम्to kill

कृतनिश्चयःhaving resolved/determined

Context

Resplendent Rama saw the deer coming out of a cluster of trees at a distance and determined to kill him.

Characters & Entities

Rāma

Mārīca (as deer; implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma often requires firm decision once a course is judged necessary; yet the episode also warns that decisions should be grounded in truth, not in an illusion’s provocation.

What is the narrative situation?

The deer reappears at a distance; Rāma, now intent on ending the chase, decides to kill it.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s decisiveness and protective readiness—he chooses a conclusive action rather than prolonged pursuit.