← 3.41 Rāma pursues the deer · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.43 Lakṣmaṇa leaves Sītā →
Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 42: Mārīca’s false cry
Summary. Mortally wounded, he calls in Rāma’s voice, Rāma fears for Sītā and takes another deer’s meat before hurrying back
Sequence
- Rāma equips himself with sword, bow, and quivers and follows (3.42.1–2)
- the deer repeatedly appears and disappears, stays just beyond arrow range, and draws him farther into the forest (3.42.3–7)
- frustrated and angry, Rāma watches it pause on a shaded patch of grass among other deer (3.42.8–9)
- he resolves to kill it and shoots a blazing arrow described as fashioned through Brahmā's weapon-craft (3.42.10–11)
- the arrow pierces Mārīca's heart → he leaps into the air and falls, mortally wounded (3.42.12–13)
- at the crucial moment he imitates Rāma's voice, crying out to Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa (3.42.14)
- as he dies, he abandons the deer disguise and reveals his large rākṣasa body (3.42.15–16)
- Rāma recognizes that Lakṣmaṇa's suspicion was correct and fears what the false cry may cause Sītā and his brother to do (3.42.17–20)
- the account then says that Rāma kills another spotted deer, takes its meat, and hurries back toward Janasthāna. (3.42.21)
Verses 3.42.1–21
3.42.1
tathā tu taṃ samādiśya bhrātaraṃ raghunandanaḥ
babandhāsiṃ mahātejā jāmbūnadamayatsarum
Having thus instructed his brother, the joy of the Raghus, of great splendour, girded on his sword with a hilt of gold.
Words: tathā tu — and thus; taṃ — him; samādiśya — having instructed; bhrātaraṃ — brother; raghunandanaḥ — the joy of the Raghus; babandhāsiṃ — girded on the sword; mahātejā — of great splendour; jāmbūnadamayatsarum — with a hilt made of gold
3.42.2
tatas triviṇataṃ cāpam ādāyātmavibhūṣaṇam
ābadhya ca kalāpau dvau jagāmodagravikramaḥ
Then, taking up his three-curved bow, his own adornment, and fastening on his two quivers, he set out with lofty stride.
Words: tatas — then; triviṇataṃ — three-curved [source form for trinataṃ]; cāpam — bow; ādāyātmavibhūṣaṇam — taking (it), his own adornment; ābadhya ca — and having fastened; kalāpau dvau — the two quivers; jagāmodagravikramaḥ — set out with lofty stride
3.42.3
taṃ vañcayāno rājendram āpatantaṃ nirīkṣya vai
babhūvāntarhitas trāsāt punaḥ saṃdarśane 'bhavat
Deceiving that lord of kings and seeing him coming on, the deer, out of (pretended) fright, would vanish, and then come into view again.
Words: taṃ — him; vañcayāno — deceiving; rājendram — the lord of kings; āpatantaṃ — coming on, approaching; nirīkṣya vai — having seen indeed; babhūvāntarhitas — became hidden; trāsāt — out of fright; punaḥ — again; saṃdarśane — into view; 'bhavat — came
3.42.4
baddhāsir dhanur ādāya pradudrāva yato mṛgaḥ
taṃ sa paśyati rūpeṇa dyotamānam ivāgrataḥ
With his sword girded, taking his bow, he ran off in the direction the deer went; he saw it shining, as it were, in beauty before him.
Words: baddhāsir — with sword girded; dhanur ādāya — taking the bow; pradudrāva — ran forth; yato mṛgaḥ — where the deer (went); taṃ sa paśyati — he sees it; rūpeṇa — in beauty, form; dyotamānam — shining; ivāgrataḥ — as if before (him)
3.42.5
avekṣyāvekṣya dhāvantaṃ dhanuṣpāṇir mahāvane
ativṛttam iṣoḥ pātāl lobhayānaṃ kadā cana
Looking again and again at it running in the great forest, bow in hand—it, having passed beyond the range of the arrow, luring him on now and then—
Words: avekṣyāvekṣya — looking again and again; dhāvantaṃ — running; dhanuṣpāṇir — bow in hand; mahāvane — in the great forest; ativṛttam — passed beyond; iṣoḥ pātāl — beyond the range (fall) of the arrow; lobhayānaṃ — luring, enticing; kadā cana — now and then, at times
3.42.6
śaṅkitaṃ tu samudbhrāntam utpatantam ivāmbare
daśyamānam adṛśyaṃ ca navoddeśeṣu keṣu cit
now wary and startled, as if springing up into the sky, now seen and now unseen in some fresh spots—
Words: śaṅkitaṃ tu — now wary; samudbhrāntam — startled, agitated; utpatantam — springing up; ivāmbare — as if into the sky; daśyamānam — being seen [source form for dṛśyamānam]; adṛśyaṃ ca — and unseen; navoddeśeṣu — in fresh spots; keṣu cit — in some
3.42.7
chinnābhrair iva saṃvītaṃ śāradaṃ candramaṇḍalam
muhūrtād eva dadṛśe muhur dūrāt prakāśate
like the autumn moon-disc veiled by scattered clouds, it was seen only for a moment, and again shone forth from afar.
Words: chinnābhrair iva — as if by broken clouds; saṃvītaṃ — veiled, covered; śāradaṃ — autumnal; candramaṇḍalam — the moon-disc; muhūrtād eva — for just a moment; dadṛśe — was seen; muhur — again, repeatedly; dūrāt — from afar; prakāśate — shines forth
3.42.8
darśanādarśanenaiva so 'pākarṣata rāghavam
āsīt kruddhas tu kākutstho vivaśas tena mohitaḥ
By this appearing and disappearing, it drew Rāghava on; and Kākutstha grew angry, helpless, bewildered by it.
Words: darśanādarśanenaiva — by appearing and disappearing; so 'pākarṣata — it drew away; rāghavam — Rāghava; āsīt — became; kruddhas tu — angry; kākutstho — Kākutstha; vivaśas — helpless; tena — by it; mohitaḥ — bewildered
3.42.9
athāvatasthe suśrāntaś chāyām āśritya śādvale
mṛgaiḥ parivṛto vanyair adūrāt pratyadṛśyata
Then it halted, much wearied, taking shade on a grassy patch, and surrounded by wild deer, appeared not far off.
Words: athāvatasthe — then it halted; suśrāntaś — much wearied; chāyām āśritya — taking to the shade; śādvale — on the grassy ground; mṛgaiḥ parivṛto — surrounded by deer; vanyair — by wild (ones); adūrāt — not far off; pratyadṛśyata — appeared, was seen
3.42.10
dṛṣṭvā rāmo mahātejās taṃ hantuṃ kṛtaniścayaḥ
saṃdhāya sudṛḍhe cāpe vikṛṣya balavad balī
Seeing it, Rāma of great splendour, resolved to kill it, fitted (an arrow) to his very firm bow, and, mighty, drew it with force,
Words: dṛṣṭvā — having seen; rāmo — Rāma; mahātejās — of great splendour; taṃ hantuṃ — to kill it; kṛtaniścayaḥ — resolved; saṃdhāya — having fitted (an arrow); sudṛḍhe cāpe — on the very firm bow; vikṛṣya — having drawn; balavad — forcefully; balī — the mighty one
3.42.11
tam eva mṛgam uddiśya jvalantam iva pannagam
mumoca jvalitaṃ dīptam astrabrahmavinirmitam
and aiming at that very deer, he loosed a blazing, flaming (arrow), like a fiery serpent, fashioned by Brahmā's weapon-craft.
Words: tam eva mṛgam — at that very deer; uddiśya — aiming at; jvalantam iva pannagam — like a blazing serpent; mumoca — loosed; jvalitaṃ — flaming; dīptam — blazing; astrabrahmavinirmitam — fashioned by the Brahmā-weapon
3.42.12
sa bhṛśaṃ mṛgarūpasya vinirbhidya śarottamaḥ
mārīcasyaiva hṛdayaṃ vibhedāśanisaṃnibhaḥ
That best of arrows, like a thunderbolt, piercing deep into the deer-form, cleft the very heart of Mārīca.
Words: sa — it; bhṛśaṃ — deeply, violently; mṛgarūpasya — of the deer-form; vinirbhidya — having pierced through; śarottamaḥ — the best of arrows; mārīcasyaiva — of Mārīca himself; hṛdayaṃ — the heart; vibhedāśanisaṃnibhaḥ — (the arrow) like a thunderbolt cleft (it)
3.42.13
tālamātram athotpatya nyapatat sa śarāturaḥ
vyanadad bhairavaṃ nādaṃ dharaṇyām alpajīvitaḥ
mriyamāṇas tu mārīco jahau tāṃ kṛtrimāṃ tanum
Springing up the height of a palm-tree, tormented by the arrow, he fell; with little life left, he uttered a fearful cry upon the ground; and dying, Mārīca cast off that false body.
Words: tālamātram — the height of a palm-tree; athotpatya — then having sprung up; nyapatat — fell down; sa śarāturaḥ — he, tormented by the arrow; vyanadad — uttered (a cry); bhairavaṃ nādaṃ — a fearful cry; dharaṇyām — upon the ground; alpajīvitaḥ — with little life left; mriyamāṇas tu — and dying; mārīco — Mārīca; jahau — cast off, abandoned; tāṃ kṛtrimāṃ tanum — that false body
3.42.14
saṃprāptakālam ājñāya cakāra ca tataḥ svaram
sadṛśaṃ rāghavasyaiva hā sīte lakṣmaṇeti ca
Knowing that the fitting moment had come, he then uttered a cry just like Rāghava's: 'Ah Sītā! Ah Lakṣmaṇa!'
Words: saṃprāptakālam — that the time had come; ājñāya — having realized; cakāra ca — and made; tataḥ svaram — then a cry, voice; sadṛśaṃ — similar, like; rāghavasyaiva — to Rāghava's very; hā sīte — 'Ah Sītā!'; lakṣmaṇeti ca — and 'Lakṣmaṇa!'
3.42.15
tena marmaṇi nirviddhaḥ śareṇānupamena hi
mṛgarūpaṃ tu tat tyaktvā rākṣasaṃ rūpam ātmanaḥ
cakre sa sumahākāyo mārīco jīvitaṃ tyajan
Pierced to the vitals by that matchless arrow, casting off that deer-form, Mārīca of huge body assumed his own rākṣasa form, as he gave up his life.
Words: tena — by that; marmaṇi — in the vital point; nirviddhaḥ — pierced; śareṇānupamena hi — by the matchless arrow; mṛgarūpaṃ tu tat — that deer-form; tyaktvā — having cast off; rākṣasaṃ rūpam — the rākṣasa form; ātmanaḥ — his own; cakre — made, assumed; sa sumahākāyo — he of huge body; mārīco — Mārīca; jīvitaṃ tyajan — giving up (his) life
3.42.16
tato vicitrakeyūraḥ sarvābharaṇabhūṣitaḥ
hemamālī mahādaṃṣṭro rākṣaso 'bhūc charāhataḥ
Then, wearing splendid armlets, decked with all his ornaments, garlanded with gold, with great tusks, the rākṣasa (lay), struck by the arrow.
Words: tato — then; vicitrakeyūraḥ — with wondrous armlets; sarvābharaṇabhūṣitaḥ — decked with all ornaments; hemamālī — gold-garlanded; mahādaṃṣṭro — with great tusks; rākṣaso 'bhūc — the rākṣasa was, became; charāhataḥ — struck by the arrow
3.42.17
taṃ dṛṣṭvā patitaṃ bhūmau rākṣasaṃ ghoradarśanam
jagāma manasā sītāṃ lakṣmaṇasya vacaḥ smaran
Seeing that rākṣasa, fearsome to look upon, fallen to the ground, he (Rāma) went in mind to Sītā, recalling Lakṣmaṇa's words.
Words: taṃ dṛṣṭvā — having seen him; patitaṃ bhūmau — fallen on the ground; rākṣasaṃ — the rākṣasa; ghoradarśanam — fearsome to look upon; jagāma manasā — went in mind; sītāṃ — to Sītā; lakṣmaṇasya vacaḥ — Lakṣmaṇa's words; smaran — recalling
3.42.18
hā sīte lakṣmaṇety evam ākruśya tu mahāsvaram
mamāra rākṣasaḥ so 'yaṃ śrutvā sītā kathaṃ bhavet
'This rākṣasa died crying loudly, "Ah Sītā! Ah Lakṣmaṇa!"—hearing it, how will Sītā fare?
Words: hā sīte lakṣmaṇety evam — 'Ah Sītā! Ah Lakṣmaṇa!' thus; ākruśya tu — having cried out; mahāsvaram — loudly, in a great voice; mamāra — died; rākṣasaḥ so 'yaṃ — this rākṣasa; śrutvā — having heard; sītā — Sītā; kathaṃ bhavet — how will (she) be
3.42.19
lakṣmaṇaś ca mahābāhuḥ kām avasthāṃ gamiṣyati
iti saṃcintya dharmātmā rāmo hṛṣṭatanūruhaḥ
and mighty-armed Lakṣmaṇa, to what state will he come?'—thus reflecting, the righteous Rāma, the hair of his body bristling,
Words: lakṣmaṇaś ca — and Lakṣmaṇa; mahābāhuḥ — mighty-armed; kām avasthāṃ — to what state; gamiṣyati — will come; iti saṃcintya — thus reflecting; dharmātmā — the righteous; rāmo — Rāma; hṛṣṭatanūruhaḥ — with body-hair bristling
3.42.20
tatra rāmaṃ bhayaṃ tīvram āviveśa viṣādajam
rākṣasaṃ mṛgarūpaṃ taṃ hatvā śrutvā ca tat svaram
There, having slain that rākṣasa in deer-form and heard that cry, a sharp fear born of dismay entered Rāma.
Words: tatra — there; rāmaṃ — Rāma; bhayaṃ tīvram — sharp fear; āviveśa — entered; viṣādajam — born of dismay; rākṣasaṃ mṛgarūpaṃ — the rākṣasa in deer-form; taṃ hatvā — having slain him; śrutvā ca — and having heard; tat svaram — that cry
3.42.21
nihatya pṛṣataṃ cānyaṃ māṃsam ādāya rāghavaḥ
tvaramāṇo janasthānaṃ sasārābhimukhas tadā
Having killed another spotted deer and taken its flesh, Rāghava then, in haste, set off toward Janasthāna.
Words: nihatya — having killed; pṛṣataṃ cānyaṃ — and another spotted deer; māṃsam ādāya — taking the flesh; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava; tvaramāṇo — hastening; janasthānaṃ — toward Janasthāna; sasārābhimukhas — set off facing (toward); tadā — then
← 3.41 Rāma pursues the deer · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.43 Lakṣmaṇa leaves Sītā →
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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