Shloka 29

मायामृगप्रकरणम्

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

Devanagari script

राक्षसस्सोऽपि तान्वन्यान्मृगान्मृगवधे रतः।।3.42.29।।प्रच्छादनार्थं भावस्य न भक्षयति संस्पृशन्।

Transliteration

rākṣasas so 'pi tān vanyān mṛgān mṛgavadhē rataḥ || 3.42.29 ||

pracchādanārthaṃ bhāvasya na bhakṣayati saṃspṛśan |

Translation

那罗刹虽嗜杀野鹿，却只触碰它们而不吞食，为的是遮掩自己真实的意图。

Word by Word

• rākṣasaḥ: the demon
• rākṣasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-निपात (particle: also/even)

• tān: those
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• vanyān: wild
• vanyān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vanya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying mṛgān)

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

• mṛgavadhē: in deer-killing
• mṛgavadhē: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛga + vadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (mṛgāṇāṃ vadhaḥ), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• rataḥ: engaged/intent
• rataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ram (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP used adjectivally: ‘attached/delighting’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• pracchādanārtham: for the purpose of concealment
• pracchādanārtham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pracchādana + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (pracchādanasyārtham), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रयोजनवाचक (purpose)

• bhāvasya: of (his) intention/state
• bhāvasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• bhakṣayati: eats/devours
• bhakṣayati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhakṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• saṃspṛśan: touching
• saṃspṛśan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-spṛś (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘touching’

Context

The demon who was interested in killing wild deer touched and felt them but did notkill or feed on them in order to hide his intention.

Characters & Entities

• rākṣasa
• Mārīca

FAQs

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

Dharma is inseparable from satya and pure intention: outwardly ‘harmless’ behavior can still be adharma if done to conceal a harmful purpose.

What is the narrative situation?

To keep his disguise credible, Mārīca refrains from predatory behavior even though he is naturally violent.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Integrity (ārjava): the implied contrast—true virtue is consistent inside and out, unlike calculated restraint used to deceive.