Shloka 4
मारीचवधः — The Slaying of Maricha
Golden Deer Deception
तं स्म पश्यति रूपेण द्योतमानमिवाग्रतः।।।।अवेक्ष्यावेक्ष्य धावन्तं धनुष्पाणिर्महावने।अतिवृत्तमिषोः पाताल्लोभयानं कदाचन।।।।शङ्कितन्तु समुद्भ्रान्तमुत्पतन्तमिवाम्बरे।दृश्यमानमदृश्यं च वनोद्देशेषु केषुचित्।।।।छिन्नाभ्रैरिव संवीतं शारदं चन्द्रमण्डलम्।
taṃ sma paśyati rūpeṇa dyotamānam ivāgrataḥ |
avekṣyāvekṣya dhāvantaṃ dhanuṣpāṇir mahāvane |
ativṛttam iṣoḥ pātāl lobhayānaṃ kadācana ||
śaṅkitaṃ tu samudbhrāntam utpatantam ivāmbare |
dṛśyamānam adṛśyaṃ ca vanoddeśeṣu keṣucit ||
chinnābhrair iva saṃvītaṃ śāradaṃ candramaṇḍalam ||
Si Rāma, tangan ang pana, ay patuloy na nakakakita sa nilalang na iyon na wari’y nagliliwanag sa unahan. Paulit-ulit niya itong minasdan habang tumatakbo sa malawak na gubat—kung minsan ay lumalampas sa abot ng kaniyang palaso, kung minsan nama’y umaakit sa kaniya pasulong. Sa pangamba at pagkalito, wari’y lumulukso ito na parang aakyat sa langit; sa ilang bahagi ng gubat, nagpapakita at biglang naglalaho. Para itong bilog ng buwan sa taglagas, na minsang natatakpan at minsang nahahayag ng pira-pirasong ulap.
After killing the demon in the figure of a deer and hearing his voice, Rama was overtaken by intense fear born of despair.
FAQs
The imagery teaches discernment (viveka): what dazzles the senses can be unstable and misleading. Dharma requires steady judgment, not being pulled by mere appearances.
Rāma continues the chase; the deer repeatedly appears and disappears, deliberately keeping him at a distance.
Rāma’s perseverance, alongside the cautionary theme that even perseverance must be guided by discrimination.