Aranya Kanda · Sarga 43 of 76 · 51 verses
“Bring Me the Deer”
Seeing it while gathering flowers, lovely-hipped Sita, faultless-limbed, the colour of polished gold, delighted, calls to her husband and to armed Lakshmana; calling again and again, she gazes at the deer: “Come, come quickly, noble son, with your brother!” Called by Vaidehi, the two tigers among men, Rama and Lakshmana, looking over the place, see the deer. Suspicious at the sight, Lakshmana says: “I think this deer is that very rakshasa Maricha. Kings who went out hunting happily in the forest have been killed by this wicked trick of his, Rama, who takes any form he likes. This deer-form is an illusion made by this master of illusion, shining, like a city of the gandharvas in the sky, tiger among men. There is no such deer on earth, Raghava, bright with jewels, lord of the world; this is an illusion without doubt.” Stopping Kakutstha as he speaks, Sita of the bright smile, delighted, her mind stolen by the deceit, says: “Noble son, this lovely deer steals my heart. Bring it, mighty-armed one; it will be our plaything. Here at our hermitage many deer of holy appearance wander together, camaras and srimaras, bears, herds of spotted deer, monkeys and kinnaras, the finest in form, very strong, mighty-armed one. But I have never seen another deer like this, king, in splendour, gentleness and brightness, as this best of deer. With limbs bright with many colours, like a jewel before me, lighting up the forest calmly, it shines like the moon. Ah, its form! Ah, its beauty! And the loveliness of its voice! This wonderful deer with bright limbs seems to steal my heart. If this deer comes alive into your grasp, it will be a wonder and will cause amazement. When our forest life is over and we are back in our kingdom, this deer will be an ornament in the inner palace. This divine deer-form will amaze Bharata, my noble son, my mothers-in-law and me, lord. If the best of deer does not come into your hands alive, its skin will be lovely, tiger among men. When this creature is killed, I want to sit on its golden skin spread on a seat of soft grass. This wilful desire seems cruel and unfit for women; but the body of this creature has filled me with wonder.”
Raghava’s own mind too is filled with wonder by that deer with golden hair, horns of the finest gems, the colour of the young sun, bright as the path of the stars. Hearing Sita and seeing the wonderful deer, tempted by its form and urged by Sita, Raghava says joyfully to his brother Lakshmana: “See, Lakshmana, Vaidehi’s longing awakened. Because of its surpassing beauty, this deer will not live today. Neither in Nandana nor in Caitraratha, let alone on earth, Saumitri, is there any deer equal to this. The lovely lines of hair, smooth and rough, shine on the deer, bright with golden spots. See its tongue as it yawns, blazing like a flame of fire, coming out of its mouth like lightning from a cloud. With a face of emerald and crystal, a belly like conch and pearl: whose mind would this indescribable deer not tempt? Whose mind would not be amazed, seeing this divine form, shining like gold, made of many jewels? Archer kings kill deer in the great forest for their meat and for sport, Lakshmana. Treasures are gathered in the great forest by effort, and minerals of many kinds, with gems, jewels and gold; that is all men’s wealth, increasing their store, as everything thought of in the mind is Shukra’s, Lakshmana. The wealth a man seeking wealth goes after without hesitating, those who know the science of wealth call true wealth, Lakshmana. Slender-waisted Vaidehi will sit with me on the precious golden skin of this jewel of a deer. No skin of kadali, priyaka, praveni or sheep would be equal to this one in touch, I think. This glorious deer and the divine one that moves in the sky, the deer among the stars and the deer on earth, are both divine. And if it is as you say, Lakshmana, an illusion of a rakshasa, then I must kill it. For this cruel Maricha, of unperfected self, wandering in the forest, harmed the best of sages before; many kings, great archers, who went out hunting were killed by him; so this deer must be killed. Here, long ago, Vatapi, despising the ascetics, killed the twice-born from inside their bellies, as its own foetus kills a she-mule. Once, after a long time, out of greed he came upon the great sage Agastya, full of power, and became his food. Seeing him wanting to take his own form again at the end, the lord smiled and said to Vatapi: ‘Vatapi, without a thought you have overpowered the best of the twice-born in the world of the living by your power; therefore you are digested.’ That rakshasa will not be like Vatapi, Lakshmana, who thinks little of one like me, always devoted to dharma, master of my senses; he will be killed as Vatapi was by Agastya, having come to me. Stay here armed and watchful; guard Maithili. What we must do depends on her, delight of the Raghus. I will kill this deer or catch it. While I go quickly to bring the deer, Saumitri, see Vaidehi’s longing for its skin; because of its skin, this deer will not live today. You must be vigilant, staying at the hermitage with Sita, while I kill the spotted deer with a single arrow. Having killed it and taken the skin, I will come back quickly, Lakshmana. Be careful, Lakshmana; guard Maithili with the help of the very strong, wise bird Jatayu, and be watchful every moment, on every side.”
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सा तं सम्प्रेक्ष्य सुश्रोणी कुसुमानि विचिन्वती । हेमराजतवर्णाभ्यां पार्श्वाभ्यामुपशोभितम् ॥ १ ॥
Seeing it as she gathered flowers, lovely-hipped one, adorned with sides coloured gold and silver,
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प्रहृष्टा चानवद्याङ्गी मृष्टहाटकवर्णिनी । भर्तारमपि चक्रन्द लक्ष्मणं चैव सायुधम् ॥ २ ॥
delighted, faultless-limbed, the colour of polished gold, she called out to her husband and to Lakshmana, armed.
आहूयाहूय च पुनस्तं मृगं साधु वीक्षते । आगच्छागच्छ शीघ्रं वै आर्यपुत्र सहानुज ॥ ३ ॥
And calling again and again, she gazes well at that deer: “Come, come quickly, noble son, with your younger brother!”
तावाहूतौ नरव्याघ्रौ वैदेह्या रामलक्ष्मणौ । वीक्षमाणौ तु तं देशं तदा ददृशतुर्मृगम् ॥ ४ ॥
Those two tigers among men, Rama and Lakshmana, called by Vaidehi, looking over that place, then saw the deer.
शङ्कमानस्तु तं दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मणो वाक्यमब्रवीत् । तमेवैनमहं मन्ये मारीचं राक्षसं मृगम् ॥ ५ ॥
Suspicious, seeing it, Lakshmana said these words: “I think this deer is that very rakshasa Maricha.
चरन्तो मृगयां हृष्टाः पापेनोपाधिना वने । अनेन निहता राम राजानः कामरूपिणा ॥ ६ ॥
“Kings roaming happily on the hunt in the forest have been killed by this wicked trick, Rama, by him who takes any form at will.
अस्य मायाविदो माया मृगरूपमिदं कृतम् । भानुमत् पुरुषव्याघ्र गन्धर्वपुरसंनिभम् ॥ ७ ॥
“This deer-form has been made as an illusion by this master of illusion, shining, tiger among men, like a city of the gandharvas.
मृगो ह्येवंविधो रत्नविचित्रो नास्ति राघव । जगत्यां जगतीनाथ मायैषा हि न संशयः ॥ ८ ॥
“For there is no such deer bright with jewels, Raghava, on earth, lord of the world. This is an illusion without doubt.”
एवं ब्रुवाणं काकुत्स्थं प्रतिवार्य शुचिस्मिता । उवाच सीता संहृष्टा छद्मना हृतचेतना ॥ ९ ॥
Stopping Kakutstha as he spoke so, bright-smiling Sita, delighted, her mind stolen by the deceit, said:
आर्यपुत्राभिरामोऽसौ मृगो हरति मे मनः । आनयैनं महाबाहो क्रीडार्थं नो भविष्यति ॥ १० ॥
“Noble son, that lovely deer steals my mind. Bring it, mighty-armed one; it will be for our play.
इहाश्रमपदेऽस्माकं बहवः पुण्यदर्शनाः । मृगाश्चरन्ति सहिताश्चमराः सृमरास्तथा ॥ ११ ॥
“Here at our hermitage many deer of holy appearance wander together, camaras and srimaras,
ऋक्षाः पृषतसङ्घाश्च वानराः किन्नरास्तथा । विहरन्ति महाबाहो रूपश्रेष्ठा महाबलाः ॥ १२ ॥
“bears, herds of spotted deer, monkeys and kinnaras roam, mighty-armed one, best in form, very strong.
न चान्यः सदृशो राजन् दृष्टः पूर्वं मृगो मया । तेजसा क्षमया दीप्त्या यथायं मृगसत्तमः ॥ १३ ॥
“But no other deer like it has been seen by me before, king, in splendour, gentleness and brightness, as this best of deer.
नानावर्णविचित्राङ्गो रत्नभूतो ममाग्रतः । द्योतयन् वनमव्यग्रं शोभते शशिसंनिभः ॥ १४ ॥
“With limbs bright with many colours, like a jewel before me, lighting up the forest calmly, it shines like the moon.
अहो रूपमहो लक्ष्मीः स्वरसम्पच्च शोभना । मृगोऽद्भुतो विचित्राङ्गो हृदयं हरतीव मे ॥ १५ ॥
“Ah, the form! Ah, the beauty! And the loveliness of voice! The wonderful deer with bright limbs seems to steal my heart.
यदि ग्रहणमभ्येति जीवन् नेव मृगस्तव । आश्चर्यभूतं भवति विस्मयं जनयिष्यति ॥ १६ ॥
“If the deer comes into your grasp alive, it will be a wonder and will create amazement.
समाप्तवनवासानां राज्यस्थानां च नः पुनः । अन्तःपुरे विभूषार्थो मृग एष भविष्यति ॥ १७ ॥
“When our forest life is over and we are again in the kingdom, this deer will be for adornment in the inner palace.
भरतस्यार्यपुत्रस्य श्वश्रूणां मम च प्रभो । मृगरूपमिदं दिव्यं विस्मयं जनयिष्यति ॥ १८ ॥
“This divine deer-form will create amazement for Bharata, for my noble son, for my mothers-in-law and for me, lord.
जीवन्न यदि तेऽभ्येति ग्रहणं मृगसत्तमः । अजिनं नरशार्दूल रुचिरं तु भविष्यति ॥ १९ ॥
“If the best of deer does not come into your grasp alive, its skin, tiger among men, will be lovely.
निहतस्यास्य सत्त्वस्य जाम्बूनदमयत्वचि । शष्पबृस्यां विनीतायामिच्छाम्यहमुपासितुम् ॥ २० ॥
“On the golden skin of this creature, when it is killed, laid on a seat of soft grass, I wish to sit.
कामवृत्तमिदं रौद्रं स्त्रीणामसदृशं मतम् । वपुषा त्वस्य सत्त्वस्य विस्मयो जनितो मम ॥ २१ ॥
“This wilful desire is thought fierce and unfit for women; but wonder has been created in me by this creature’s body.”
तेन काञ्चनरोम्णा तु मणिप्रवरशृङ्गिणा । तरुणादित्यवर्णेन नक्षत्रपथवर्चसा ॥ २२ ॥
बभूव राघवस्यापि मनो विस्मयमागतम् । इति सीतावचः श्रुत्वा दृष्ट्वा च मृगमद्भुतम् ॥ २३ ॥
By that deer with golden hair, horns of the finest gems, the colour of the young sun, with the splendour of the path of the stars, the mind of Raghava too came to wonder. Hearing Sita’s words thus and seeing the wonderful deer,
लोभितस्तेन रूपेण सीतया च प्रचोदितः । उवाच राघवो हृष्टो भ्रातरं लक्ष्मणं वचः ॥ २४ ॥
tempted by its form and urged by Sita, Raghava, delighted, said these words to his brother Lakshmana:
पश्य लक्ष्मण वैदेह्याः स्पृहामुल्लसितामिमाम् । रूपश्रेष्ठतया ह्येष मृगोऽद्य न भविष्यति ॥ २५ ॥
“See, Lakshmana, this longing of Vaidehi’s, awakened. Because of the excellence of its beauty, this deer will not live today.
न वने नन्दनोद्देशे न चैत्ररथसंश्रये । कुतः पृथिव्यां सौमित्रे योऽस्य कश्चित् समो मृगः ॥ २६ ॥
“Neither in the forest of the Nandana region nor in the Caitraratha grove, how then on earth, Saumitri, is there any deer equal to it?
प्रतिलोमानुलोमाश्च रुचिरा रोमराजयः । शोभन्ते मृगमाश्रित्य चित्राः कनकबिन्दुभिः ॥ २७ ॥
“Lovely lines of hair, against the grain and with it, shine, resting on the deer, bright with golden spots.
पश्यास्य जृम्भमाणस्य दीप्तामग्निशिखोपमाम् । जिह्वां मुखान्निःसरन्तीं मेघादिव शतह्रदाम् ॥ २८ ॥
“See its blazing tongue, like a flame of fire, as it yawns, coming out of its mouth like lightning from a cloud.
मसारगल्वर्कमुखः शङ्खमुक्तानिभोदरः । कस्य नामानिरूप्योऽसौ न मनो लोभयेन्मृगः ॥ २९ ॥
“With a face of emerald and crystal, a belly like conch and pearl: whose mind would this indescribable deer not tempt?
कस्य रूपमिदं दृष्ट्वा जाम्बूनदमयप्रभम् । नानारत्नमयं दिव्यं न मनो विस्मयं व्रजेत् ॥ ३० ॥
“Whose mind, seeing this form, with the splendour of gold, made of many jewels, divine, would not go to wonder?
मांसहेतोरपि मृगान् विहारार्थं च धन्विनः । घ्नन्ति लक्ष्मण राजानो मृगयायां महावने ॥ ३१ ॥
“Archer kings kill deer in the great forest on the hunt, Lakshmana, for the sake of meat and for sport.
धनानि व्यवसायेन विचीयन्ते महावने । धातवो विविधाश्चापि मणिरत्नसुवर्णिनः ॥ ३२ ॥
“Treasures are gathered by effort in the great forest, and minerals of many kinds, with gems, jewels and gold.
तत् सारमखिलं नॄणां धनं निचयवर्धनम् । मनसा चिन्तितं सर्वं यथा शुक्रस्य लक्ष्मण ॥ ३३ ॥
“That is the whole essence of wealth for men, increasing their stores, all that is thought of in the mind, as with Shukra, Lakshmana.
अर्थी येनार्थकृत्येन संव्रजत्यविचारयन् । तमर्थमर्थशास्त्रज्ञाः प्राहुरर्थ्याः सुलक्ष्मण ॥ ३४ ॥
“The wealth for whose sake a seeker of wealth goes without hesitation, that the knowers of the science of wealth call wealth worth having, good Lakshmana.
एतस्य मृगरत्नस्य परार्घ्ये काञ्चनत्वचि । उपवेक्ष्यति वैदेही मया सह सुमध्यमा ॥ ३५ ॥
“On the precious golden skin of this jewel of a deer slender-waisted Vaidehi will sit with me.
न कादली न प्रियकी न प्रवेणी न चाविकी । भवेदेतस्य सदृशी स्पर्शेऽनेनेति मे मतिः ॥ ३६ ॥
“No kadali, nor priyaki, nor praveni, nor sheep’s skin would be equal to this one in touch, I think.
एष चैव मृगः श्रीमान् यश्च दिव्यो नभश्चरः । उभावेतौ मृगौ दिव्यौ तारामृगमहीमृगौ ॥ ३७ ॥
“This glorious deer, and the divine one that moves in the sky: both these deer are divine, the star-deer and the earth-deer.
यदि वायं तथा यन्मां भवेद् वदसि लक्ष्मण । मायैषा राक्षसस्येति कर्तव्योऽस्य वधो मया ॥ ३८ ॥
“Or if it is as you tell me, Lakshmana, ‘This is the illusion of a rakshasa’, its killing must be done by me.
एतेन हि नृशंसेन मारीचेनाकृतात्मना । वने विचरता पूर्वं हिंसिता मुनिपुंगवाः ॥ ३९ ॥
“For by this cruel Maricha, of unperfected self, wandering in the forest before, the best of sages were harmed.
उत्थाय बहवोऽनेन मृगयायां जनाधिपाः । निहताः परमेष्वासास्तस्माद् वध्यस्त्वयं मृगः ॥ ४० ॥
“Many lords of people, great archers, rising up for the hunt, were killed by him; therefore this deer must be killed.
पुरस्तादिह वातापिः परिभूय तपस्विनः । उदरस्थो द्विजान् हन्ति स्वगर्भोऽश्वतरीमिव ॥ ४१ ॥
“Long ago here Vatapi, despising the ascetics, being in their bellies, killed the twice-born, as its own foetus kills a she-mule.
स कदाचिच्चिराल्लोभादाससाद महामुनिम् । अगस्त्यं तेजसा युक्तं भक्ष्यस्तस्य बभूव ह ॥ ४२ ॥
“Once, after a long time, out of greed he came upon the great sage Agastya, endowed with splendour, and became his food.
समुत्थाने च तद्रूपं कर्तुकामं समीक्ष्य तम् । उत्स्मयित्वा तु भगवान् वातापिमिदमब्रवीत् ॥ ४३ ॥
“Seeing him wishing to make his form at the rising, the lord, smiling, said this to Vatapi:
त्वयाविगण्य वातापे परिभूताश्च तेजसा । जीवलोके द्विजश्रेष्ठास्तस्मादसि जरां गतः ॥ ४४ ॥
“’By you, Vatapi, without regard, the best of the twice-born in the world of the living have been overpowered by your power; therefore you have been digested.’
तद् रक्षो न भवेदेव वातापिरिव लक्ष्मण । मद्विधं योऽतिमन्येत धर्मनित्यं जितेन्द्रियम् ॥ ४५ ॥
“That rakshasa will not be, Lakshmana, like Vatapi, who would think little of one like me, always devoted to dharma, master of my senses.
भवेद्धतोऽयं वातापिरगस्त्येनेव मा गतः । इह त्वं भव संनद्धो यन्त्रितो रक्ष मैथिलीम् ॥ ४६ ॥
“He will be killed, as Vatapi by Agastya, having come to me. Stay here armed, restrained; guard Maithili.
अस्यामायत्तमस्माकं यत् कृत्यं रघुनन्दन । अहमेनं वधिष्यामि ग्रहीष्याम्यथवा मृगम् ॥ ४७ ॥
“What we must do depends on her, delight of the Raghus. I will kill this deer, or else catch it.
यावद् गच्छामि सौमित्रे मृगमानयितुं द्रुतम् । पश्य लक्ष्मण वैदेह्या मृगत्वचि गतां स्पृहाम् ॥ ४८ ॥
“While I go quickly to bring the deer, Saumitri, see, Lakshmana, Vaidehi’s longing gone to the deer’s skin.
त्वचा प्रधानया ह्येष मृगोऽद्य न भविष्यति । अप्रमत्तेन ते भाव्यमाश्रमस्थेन सीतया ॥ ४९ ॥
“Because of its principal skin this deer will not live today. You must be watchful, staying at the hermitage with Sita,
यावत् पृषतमेकेन सायकेन निहन्म्यहम् । हत्वैतच्चर्म चादाय शीघ्रमेष्यामि लक्ष्मण ॥ ५० ॥
“while I kill the spotted deer with a single arrow. Having killed it and taken this skin, I will come back quickly, Lakshmana.
प्रदक्षिणेनातिबलेन पक्षिणा जटायुषा बुद्धिमता च लक्ष्मण । भवाप्रमत्तः प्रतिगृह्य मैथिलीं प्रतिक्षणं सर्वत एव शङ्कितः ॥ ५१ ॥
“Be watchful, Lakshmana, having taken charge of Maithili, with the very strong, wise bird Jatayu, who moves rightward, suspicious every moment on every side.”