← 3.39 Mārīca’s final warning · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.41 Rāma pursues the deer →
Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 40: The golden deer appears
Summary. Mārīca yields to Rāvaṇa, travels to the hermitage and assumes a jewelled deer’s form that attracts Sītā while frightening the real deer
Sequence
- Afraid of Rāvaṇa and expecting death from Rāma, Mārīca finally agrees to go (3.40.1–3)
- Rāvaṇa embraces him in delight, praises his compliance, and invites him into the flying chariot (3.40.4–6)
- they travel together to Daṇḍaka and reach Rāma's hermitage (3.40.7–9)
- Rāvaṇa gets down, takes Mārīca's hand, points out the banana-surrounded dwelling, and tells him to act (3.40.10–11)
- Mārīca becomes a marvelous deer with gemlike horns, sapphire-colored features, silver spots, golden coloring, and an iridescent tail (3.40.12–16)
- he moves gracefully over the grass, nibbles shoots, and approaches the trees near the hut so that Sītā will see him (3.40.17–21)
- he repeatedly goes away and returns, mingling with the deer → the real deer smell him and flee; he suppresses his habit of eating them so as not to expose himself (3.40.22–27)
- Sītā comes out gathering flowers and sees him → his extraordinary appearance holds her attention while he continues moving within view. (3.40.28–32)
Verses 3.40.1–32
3.40.1
evam uktvā tu paruṣaṃ mārīco rāvaṇo tataḥ
gacchāvety abravīd dīno bhayād rātriṃcaraprabhoḥ
Having thus spoken harshly, Mārīca, wretched with fear of the lord of the night-rangers, then said to Rāvaṇa, 'Let us go.'
Words: evam uktvā — having thus spoken; tu — but, and; paruṣaṃ — harshly; mārīco — Mārīca; rāvaṇo — to Rāvaṇa [nom. form for acc.]; tataḥ — then; gacchāvety — 'let us two go,'; abravīd — said; dīno — wretched, dejected; bhayād — out of fear; rātriṃcaraprabhoḥ — of the lord of the night-rangers
3.40.2
dṛṣṭāś cāhaṃ punas tena śaracāpāsidhāriṇā
madvidhodyataśastreṇa vinaṣṭaṃ jīvitaṃ ca me
If I am seen again by him—wielder of arrow, bow, and sword, who raises his weapon against ones like me—then my life is lost.
Words: dṛṣṭāś cāhaṃ — and (if) I am seen; punas — again; tena — by him; śaracāpāsidhāriṇā — wielder of arrow, bow, and sword; madvidhodyataśastreṇa — whose weapon is raised against ones like me; vinaṣṭaṃ — lost, destroyed; jīvitaṃ ca me — and my life
3.40.3
kiṃ tu kartuṃ mayā śakyam evaṃ tvayi durātmani
eṣa gacchāmy ahaṃ tāta svasti te 'stu niśācaraḥ
But what can I do, when you are so wicked? Here I, the night-ranger, go, my dear; may it be well with you.
Words: kiṃ tu — but what; kartuṃ — to do; mayā — by me; śakyam — possible; evaṃ — thus, so; tvayi durātmani — when you are wicked (loc.); eṣa — here; gacchāmy ahaṃ — I go; tāta — my dear; svasti te 'stu — may it be well with you; niśācaraḥ — the night-ranger (i.e. I)
3.40.4
prahṛṣṭas tv abhavat tena vacanena sa rākṣasaḥ
pariṣvajya susaṃśliṣṭam idaṃ vacanam abravīt
At these words that rākṣasa (Rāvaṇa) was delighted, and clasping (Mārīca) in a close embrace, spoke thus:
Words: prahṛṣṭas — delighted; tv — indeed; abhavat — became; tena vacanena — at those words; sa rākṣasaḥ — that rākṣasa; pariṣvajya — having embraced; susaṃśliṣṭam — closely, in a tight (embrace); idaṃ vacanam — these words; abravīt — spoke
3.40.5
etac chauṇḍīryayuktaṃ te macchabdād iva bhāṣitam
idānīm asi mārīcaḥ pūrvam anyo niśācaraḥ
This valorous speech of yours is spoken as though at my very word; now you are (the true) Mārīca—before, you were some other night-ranger.
Words: etac — this; chauṇḍīryayuktaṃ — full of valour, prowess; te — your; macchabdād — at my word, command; iva — as if; bhāṣitam — spoken; idānīm — now; asi — you are; mārīcaḥ — Mārīca; pūrvam — before; anyo — another; niśācaraḥ — night-ranger
3.40.6
āruhyatām ayaṃ śīghraṃ khago ratnavibhūṣitaḥ
mayā saha ratho yuktaḥ piśācavadanaiḥ kharaiḥ
Let this sky-going chariot, adorned with gems, yoked with goblin-faced mules, be mounted quickly along with me.
Words: āruhyatām — let it be mounted; ayaṃ — this; śīghraṃ — quickly; khago — sky-going; ratnavibhūṣitaḥ — adorned with gems; mayā saha — together with me; ratho — chariot; yuktaḥ — yoked; piśācavadanaiḥ — with goblin-faced (mules); kharaiḥ — with mules
3.40.7
tato rāvaṇamārīcau vimānam iva taṃ ratham
āruhya yayatuḥ śīghraṃ tasmād āśramamaṇḍalāt
Then Rāvaṇa and Mārīca, mounting that chariot, which was like a celestial car, went swiftly from that circle of hermitages,
Words: tato — then; rāvaṇamārīcau — Rāvaṇa and Mārīca (dual); vimānam iva — like a celestial car; taṃ ratham — that chariot; āruhya — having mounted; yayatuḥ — the two went; śīghraṃ — swiftly; tasmād — from that; āśramamaṇḍalāt — from the circle of hermitages
3.40.8
tathaiva tatra paśyantau pattanāni vanāni ca
girīṃś ca saritaḥ sarvā rāṣṭrāṇi nagarāṇi ca
gazing, as they went, upon cities and forests, and mountains and all the rivers, kingdoms and towns,
Words: tathaiva — even so, likewise; tatra — there; paśyantau — the two gazing; pattanāni — cities, towns; vanāni ca — and forests; girīṃś ca — and mountains; saritaḥ — rivers; sarvā — all; rāṣṭrāṇi — kingdoms; nagarāṇi ca — and towns
3.40.9
sametya daṇḍakāraṇyaṃ rāghavasyāśramaṃ tataḥ
dadarśa sahamarīco rāvaṇo rākṣasādhipaḥ
Reaching the Daṇḍaka forest, Rāvaṇa, lord of rākṣasas, together with Mārīca, then beheld the hermitage of Rāghava.
Words: sametya — having reached; daṇḍakāraṇyaṃ — the Daṇḍaka forest; rāghavasyāśramaṃ — the hermitage of Rāghava; tataḥ — then; dadarśa — beheld; sahamarīco — together with Mārīca; rāvaṇo — Rāvaṇa; rākṣasādhipaḥ — lord of rākṣasas
3.40.10
avatīrya rathāt tasmāt tataḥ kāñcanabhūṣaṇāt
haste gṛhītvā mārīcaṃ rāvaṇo vākyam abravīt
Descending from that gold-adorned chariot, then, taking Mārīca by the hand, Rāvaṇa spoke these words:
Words: avatīrya — having descended; rathāt tasmāt — from that chariot; tataḥ — then; kāñcanabhūṣaṇāt — gold-adorned; haste gṛhītvā — taking by the hand; mārīcaṃ — Mārīca; rāvaṇo — Rāvaṇa; vākyam abravīt — spoke words
3.40.11
etad rāmāśramapadaṃ dṛśyate kadalīvṛtam
kriyatāṃ tat sakhe śīghraṃ yadarthaṃ vayam āgatāḥ
'This hermitage-ground of Rāma is seen, encircled by plantains; do quickly, my friend, that for which we have come.'
Words: etad — this; rāmāśramapadaṃ — Rāma's hermitage-ground; dṛśyate — is seen; kadalīvṛtam — surrounded by plantains; kriyatāṃ — let it be done; tat — that; sakhe — O friend; śīghraṃ — quickly; yadarthaṃ — for which purpose; vayam āgatāḥ — we have come
3.40.12
sa rāvaṇavacaḥ śrutvā mārīco rākṣasas tadā
mṛgo bhūtvāśramadvāri rāmasya vicacāra ha
Hearing Rāvaṇa's words, the rākṣasa Mārīca then, becoming a deer, roamed at the door of Rāma's hermitage.
Words: sa — he; rāvaṇavacaḥ — Rāvaṇa's words; śrutvā — having heard; mārīco — Mārīca; rākṣasas — the rākṣasa; tadā — then; mṛgo bhūtvāśramadvāri — becoming a deer, at the hermitage door; rāmasya — of Rāma; vicacāra ha — roamed
3.40.13
maṇipravaraśṛṅgāgraḥ sitāsitamukhākṛtiḥ
raktapadmotpalamukha indranīlotpalaśravāḥ
with horn-tips of the choicest gems, his face marked black and white, his mouth like a red lotus and lily, his ears like sapphire-blue lilies,
Words: maṇipravaraśṛṅgāgraḥ — with horn-tips of choicest gems; sitāsitamukhākṛtiḥ — with a face of white and black form; raktapadmotpalamukha — with mouth like red lotus and lily; indranīlotpalaśravāḥ — with ears like sapphire-blue lilies
3.40.14
kiṃ cid abhyunnata grīva indranīlanibhodaraḥ
madhūkanibhapārśvaś ca kañjakiñjalkasaṃnibhaḥ
his neck slightly raised, his belly gleaming like sapphire, his flanks like the madhūka flower, glowing like the filament of a lotus,
Words: kiṃ cid — somewhat, slightly; abhyunnata — slightly raised (compound-initial); grīva — -necked; indranīlanibhodaraḥ — with belly like sapphire; madhūkanibhapārśvaś ca — and with flanks like the madhūka flower; kañjakiñjalkasaṃnibhaḥ — resembling a lotus-filament
3.40.15
vaidūryasaṃkāśakhuras tanujaṅghaḥ susaṃhataḥ
indrāyudhasavarṇena pucchenordhvaṃ virājitaḥ
his hooves like lapis lazuli, his shanks slender, his body well-knit, made resplendent by an upraised tail coloured like the rainbow,
Words: vaidūryasaṃkāśakhuras — with hooves resembling lapis lazuli; tanujaṅghaḥ — slender-shanked; susaṃhataḥ — well-knit, compact; indrāyudhasavarṇena — of a colour like the rainbow; pucchenordhvaṃ — with tail, upward; virājitaḥ — made resplendent
3.40.16
manoharasnigdhavarṇo ratnair nānāvidhair vṛtaḥ
kṣaṇena rākṣaso jāto mṛgaḥ paramaśobhanaḥ
of a lovely, glossy hue, covered with jewels of many kinds—in a moment the rākṣasa became a most beautiful deer.
Words: manoharasnigdhavarṇo — of a lovely, glossy colour; ratnair nānāvidhair — with jewels of many kinds; vṛtaḥ — covered; kṣaṇena — in a moment; rākṣaso jāto — the rākṣasa became; mṛgaḥ — a deer; paramaśobhanaḥ — most beautiful
3.40.17
vanaṃ prajvalayan ramyaṃ rāmāśramapadaṃ ca tat
manoharaṃ darśanīyaṃ rūpaṃ kṛtvā sa rākṣasaḥ
Lighting up the lovely forest and that hermitage-ground of Rāma, that rākṣasa, having taken on a form charming and fair to behold,
Words: vanaṃ — the forest; prajvalayan — lighting up, setting ablaze; ramyaṃ — lovely; rāmāśramapadaṃ ca tat — and that hermitage-ground of Rāma; manoharaṃ — charming; darśanīyaṃ — fair to behold; rūpaṃ kṛtvā — having taken a form; sa rākṣasaḥ — that rākṣasa
3.40.18
pralobhanārthaṃ vaidehyā nānādhātuvicitritam
vicaran gacchate samyak śādvalāni samantataḥ
in order to entice Vaidehī, variegated with minerals of every kind, roaming, moved gracefully over the grassy patches on every side.
Words: pralobhanārthaṃ — for the sake of enticing; vaidehyā — of, for Vaidehī; nānādhātuvicitritam — variegated with various minerals; vicaran — roaming; gacchate — moves, goes; samyak — well, gracefully; śādvalāni — grassy patches, lawns; samantataḥ — on every side
3.40.19
rūpyabinduśataiś citro bhūtvā ca priyadarśanaḥ
viṭapīnāṃ kisalayān bhaṅktvādan vicacāra ha
Dappled with hundreds of silver spots and lovely to behold, breaking off the tender shoots of the trees and eating them, he roamed about.
Words: rūpyabinduśataiś — with hundreds of silver spots; citro — dappled; bhūtvā ca — and having become; priyadarśanaḥ — lovely to behold; viṭapīnāṃ — of the trees; kisalayān — the tender shoots; bhaṅktvādan — breaking and eating; vicacāra ha — roamed
3.40.20
kadalīgṛhakaṃ gatvā karṇikārān itas tataḥ
samāśrayan mandagatiḥ sītāsaṃdarśanaṃ tadā
Going to a plantain-bower and resorting here and there to the karṇikāra trees, with slow gait, he then came within Sītā's sight.
Words: kadalīgṛhakaṃ — a plantain-bower; gatvā — having gone; karṇikārān — the karṇikāra trees; itas tataḥ — here and there; samāśrayan — resorting to; mandagatiḥ — of slow gait; sītāsaṃdarśanaṃ — within Sītā's sight; tadā — then
3.40.21
rājīvacitrapṛṣṭhaḥ sa virarāja mahāmṛgaḥ
rāmāśramapadābhyāśe vicacāra yathāsukham
That great deer, with a back dappled like a blue lotus, shone forth, and roamed at his ease near Rāma's hermitage.
Words: rājīvacitrapṛṣṭhaḥ — with a back dappled like a blue lotus; sa — he; virarāja — shone forth; mahāmṛgaḥ — the great deer; rāmāśramapadābhyāśe — in the vicinity of Rāma's hermitage; vicacāra — roamed; yathāsukham — at ease
3.40.22
punar gatvā nivṛttaś ca vicacāra mṛgottamaḥ
gatvā muhūrtaṃ tvarayā punaḥ pratinivartate
Going away and returning again, that best of deer roamed about; going off in haste for a moment, he would come back again.
Words: punar gatvā — going again; nivṛttaś ca — and returning; vicacāra — roamed; mṛgottamaḥ — the best of deer; gatvā — having gone; muhūrtaṃ — for a moment; tvarayā — in haste; punaḥ — again; pratinivartate — returns
3.40.23
vikrīḍaṃś ca punar bhūmau punar eva niṣīdati
āśramadvāram āgamya mṛgayūthāni gacchati
Frolicking on the ground, again and again he would sit down; coming to the hermitage door, he would go off to the herds of deer.
Words: vikrīḍaṃś ca — and frolicking; punar — again; bhūmau — on the ground; punar eva — again; niṣīdati — sits down; āśramadvāram — the hermitage door; āgamya — having come; mṛgayūthāni — the herds of deer; gacchati — goes
3.40.24
mṛgayūthair anugataḥ punar eva nivartate
sītādarśanam ākāṅkṣan rākṣaso mṛgatāṃ gataḥ
Followed by herds of deer, he would come back again—the rākṣasa in deer-form, longing for the sight of Sītā.
Words: mṛgayūthair — by herds of deer; anugataḥ — followed; punar eva — again; nivartate — returns; sītādarśanam — the sight of Sītā; ākāṅkṣan — longing for; rākṣaso — the rākṣasa; mṛgatāṃ gataḥ — having taken deer-form
3.40.25
paribhramati citrāṇi maṇḍalāni viniṣpatan
samudvīkṣya ca sarve taṃ mṛgā ye 'nye vanecarāḥ
He wandered about, bounding off in brilliant circles; and all the other deer, forest-rangers, catching sight of him,
Words: paribhramati — wanders about; citrāṇi — brilliant, various; maṇḍalāni — circles; viniṣpatan — bounding forth, springing; samudvīkṣya ca — and having looked up at; sarve — all; taṃ — him; mṛgā — the deer; ye 'nye — which others; vanecarāḥ — forest-rangers
3.40.26
upagamya samāghrāya vidravanti diśo daśa
rākṣasaḥ so 'pi tān vanyān mṛgān mṛgavadhe rataḥ
approaching and smelling him, fled in the ten directions. And that rākṣasa too, though delighting in the slaughter of deer,
Words: upagamya — having approached; samāghrāya — having smelled; vidravanti — flee; diśo daśa — the ten directions; rākṣasaḥ so 'pi — and that rākṣasa too; tān vanyān mṛgān — those wild deer; mṛgavadhe — in the slaughter of deer; rataḥ — delighting
3.40.27
pracchādanārthaṃ bhāvasya na bhakṣayati saṃspṛśan
tasminn eva tataḥ kāle vaidehī śubhalocanā
in order to conceal his true nature, only touched them and did not eat. At that very time, then, Vaidehī of lovely eyes,
Words: pracchādanārthaṃ — for the sake of concealment; bhāvasya — of (his) nature, intent; na bhakṣayati — does not eat; saṃspṛśan — touching; tasminn eva — at that very; tataḥ kāle — then, at (that) time; vaidehī — Vaidehī; śubhalocanā — of lovely eyes
3.40.28
kusumāpacaye vyagrā pādapān atyavartata
karṇikārān aśokāṃś ca cūṭāṃś ca madirekṣaṇā
intent on gathering flowers, passed among the trees—karṇikāras, aśokas, and mango trees—she of intoxicating eyes,
Words: kusumāpacaye — in the gathering of flowers; vyagrā — intent, absorbed; pādapān — the trees; atyavartata — passed by, moved among; karṇikārān — karṇikāra trees; aśokāṃś ca — and aśoka trees; cūṭāṃś ca — and mango trees; madirekṣaṇā — with intoxicating eyes
3.40.29
kusumāny apacinvantī cacāra rucirānanā
anarhāraṇyavāsasya sā taṃ ratnamayaṃ mṛgam
muktāmaṇivicitrāṅgaṃ dadarśa paramāṅganā
Gathering flowers, the fair-faced one wandered about; she, that peerless woman, wife of one who ill deserved to dwell in the forest, beheld that jewelled deer, its body variegated with pearls and gems.
Words: kusumāny — flowers; apacinvantī — gathering, plucking; cacāra — wandered; rucirānanā — fair-faced; anarhāraṇyavāsasya — of one who did not deserve forest-dwelling [gen., ref. to Rāma]; sā — she; taṃ ratnamayaṃ mṛgam — that jewelled deer; muktāmaṇivicitrāṅgaṃ — with body variegated with pearls and gems; dadarśa — beheld; paramāṅganā — the peerless woman
3.40.30
taṃ vai ruciradaṇtauṣṭhaṃ rūpyadhātutanūruham
vismayotphullanayanā sasnehaṃ samudaikṣata
With eyes wide open in wonder, she gazed with fondness upon him—with lovely teeth and lips, his body-hair like silver ore.
Words: taṃ vai — him indeed; ruciradaṇtauṣṭhaṃ — with lovely teeth and lips [source spells 'daṇta']; rūpyadhātutanūruham — with body-hair like silver ore; vismayotphullanayanā — with eyes wide open in wonder; sasnehaṃ — with affection, fondly; samudaikṣata — gazed at
3.40.31
sa ca tāṃ rāma dayitāṃ paśyan māyāmayo mṛgaḥ
vicacāra tatas tatra dīpayann iva tad vanam
And that illusory deer, seeing her, the beloved of Rāma, roamed there this way and that, as though setting the forest ablaze.
Words: sa ca — and he; tāṃ — her; rāma — (of) Rāma (compound-initial); dayitāṃ — beloved; paśyan — seeing; māyāmayo — illusory, magical; mṛgaḥ — deer; vicacāra — roamed; tatas tatra — there, this way and that; dīpayann iva — as if lighting up; tad vanam — that forest
3.40.32
adṛṣṭapūrvaṃ dṛṣṭvā taṃ nānāratnamayaṃ mṛgam
vismayaṃ paramaṃ sītā jagāma janakātmajā
Seeing that deer, made of many jewels, never seen before, Sītā, the daughter of Janaka, fell into the utmost wonder.
Words: adṛṣṭapūrvaṃ — never seen before; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; taṃ — it; nānāratnamayaṃ — made of various jewels; mṛgam — deer; vismayaṃ paramaṃ — the utmost wonder; sītā — Sītā; jagāma — went into, fell into; janakātmajā — the daughter of Janaka
← 3.39 Mārīca’s final warning · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.41 Rāma pursues the deer →
Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.
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