Shloka 23
मारीचवधोत्तरं रामस्य शङ्का-निमित्त-दर्शनं लक्ष्मण-निग्रहश्च
After Maricha’s Slaying: Omens, Anxiety, and Rama’s Rebuke of Lakshmana
इदं हि रक्षो मृगसन्निकाशं प्रलोभ्य मां दूरमनुप्रयान्तम्।हतं कथञ्चिन्महता श्रमेण स राक्षसोऽभून्म्रियमाण एव।।।।
idaṃ hi rakṣo mṛgasannikāśaṃ pralobhya māṃ dūram anuprayāntam |
hataṃ kathañcin mahatā śrameṇa sa rākṣaso ’bhūn mriyamāṇa eva ||
เพราะรากษสตนนี้ปลอมกายดุจมฤคา ล่อลวงให้ข้าตามไปไกล ครั้นข้าฆ่าได้ก็ด้วยความเพียรอันใหญ่ยิ่ง และเมื่อมันสิ้นใจลง จึงปรากฏรูปแท้เป็นอสูรรากษส
Appearing in the guise of a deer, this demon allured me to a great distance. With much effort he was somehow killed. but he assumed his demoniac form while dying.
FAQs
Dharma warns against deception and distraction: evil often succeeds by drawing protectors away from their duty-post.
Rāma explains how the deer-form demon lured him far from the hermitage, creating the opening for Sītā’s peril.
Courage and perseverance—Rāma fights and kills the demon despite great fatigue.