Shloka 32

मायामृगप्रकरणम्

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

Devanagari script

अनर्हाऽरण्यवासस्य सा तं रत्नमयं मृगम्।।3.42.32।।मुक्तामणि विचित्राङ्गं ददर्श परमाङ्गना।

Transliteration

anarhā 'raṇyavāsasya sā taṁ ratnamayaṁ mṛgam | muktāmaṇivicitrāṅgaṁ dadarśa paramāṅganā || 3.42.32 ||

Translation

Ang marangal na ginang—di nararapat sa paninirahan sa gubat—ay namataan ang usa na wari’y hinubog sa mga hiyas, ang katawan ay may hiwagang guhit ng perlas at mga batong mamahalin.

Word by Word

• anarhā: unfit/unworthy
• anarhā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an-arha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of sā/vaidehī)

• araṇyavāsasya: of forest-dwelling
• araṇyavāsasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: araṇya + vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (araṇyasya vāsaḥ), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tam: that
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ratnamayam: gem-encrusted
• ratnamayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ratna + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (ratnaiḥ mayaḥ/ratnamayaḥ), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of mṛgam)

• mṛgam: deer
• mṛgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• muktāmaṇi: pearls and gems
• muktāmaṇi: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muktā + maṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (muktāś ca maṇayaś ca), नपुंसकलिङ्गे अव्ययीभाववत्/अव्ययभावेन विशेषणार्थे (used as qualifier in compound phrase)

• vicitrāṅgam: with a variegated body
• vicitrāṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-citra + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (vicitram aṅgam yasya), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of mṛgam)

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• paramāṅganā: the noble lady
• paramāṅganā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama + aṅganā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition to sā

Context

Seeing such an unprecedented deer decorated with different gems, Sita, daughter of Janaka, stood amazed.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē dvicatvāriṅśassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the fortysecond sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• forest

FAQs

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

It implicitly warns that dazzling appearances can distract the mind; dharma requires discernment (viveka) amid temptation and wonder.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā sees the extraordinary, gem-like deer—an omen that initiates the chain of events leading to her abduction.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Refinement and nobility—Sītā is portrayed as a royal lady unsuited to harsh forest life.