Shloka 24

मायामृगप्रकरणम्

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

Devanagari script

राजीवचित्रपृष्ठस्स विरराज महामृगः।रामाश्रमपदाभ्याशे विचचार यथासुखम्।।3.42.24।।

Transliteration

rājīvacitrapṛṣṭhas sa virarāja mahāmṛgaḥ |

rāmāśramapadābhyāśe vicacāra yathāsukham || 3.42.24 ||

Translation

那头大鹿背纹如青莲般绚丽，光彩照人，在罗摩隐修院近旁的地界上自在游走。

Word by Word

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्तिवाचक (adverb: again)

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त; पूर्वकाल (having gone)

• निवृत्तः: returned
• निवृत्तः: विशेषण (Predicate adjective of कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (having turned back/returned)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्धसूचक (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• विचचार: wandered
• विचचार: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + चर् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मृगोत्तमः: the best deer
• मृगोत्तमः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (best among deer)

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त; पूर्वकाल (having gone)

• मुहूर्तम्: for a moment
• मुहूर्तम्: अत्यन्तसंयोग (Duration/काल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुहूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कालपरिमाण (accusative of duration)

• त्वरया: with haste
• त्वरया: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; साधनभाव (by/with haste)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्तिवाचक

• प्रतिनिवर्तते: turns back, returns
• प्रतिनिवर्तते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + नि + वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Context

That magnificent deer glittered with the colour of blue lotus on its back, wandered merrily in the vicinity of Rama's hermitage.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Mārīca (as deer)

FAQs

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

Even sacred spaces can be approached by deception; dharma includes guarding the vulnerable and maintaining vigilance even in seemingly peaceful surroundings.

What is the narrative situation?

The illusory deer displays its beauty near Rāma’s hermitage to ensure it is seen.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protectiveness (rakṣā-dharma): the duty to safeguard the āśrama and its inhabitants from hidden threats.