सा तं सम्प्रेक्ष्य सुश्रोणी कुसुमानि विचिन्वती। नेमराजतवर्णाभ्यां पार्वाभ्यामुपशोभितम्॥ प्रहृष्टा चानवद्याङ्गी मृष्टहाटकवर्णिनी। भर्तारमपि चक्रन्द लक्ष्मणं चैव सायुधम्॥
Beholding that deer with its sides painted with gold and silver, while collecting flowers, Sītā, having blameless limbs and beautiful hips and having the colour of her body like that of pure gold became immensely pleased and called aloud her husband and Lakşmaņa with scimitars in their hands.
आहूयाहूय च पुनस्तं मृगं साधु वीक्षते। आगच्छागच्छ शीघ्रं वै आर्यपुत्र सहानुज ॥
Do you come soon, do you come soon, O son of the worshipful Sire, along with your younger brother
तावाहूतौ नरव्याघ्रौ वैदेह्या रामलक्ष्मणौ। वीक्षमाणौ तु तं देशं तदा ददृशतुर्मंगम्॥
Having called (her husband) again and again in this strain she continued beholding that deer. Being thus called by the daughter of the king of Videha those two best of men Rāma and Laks maņa, casting their looks around beheld that deer.
शङ्कमानस्तु तं दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मणो वाक्यमब्रवीत्। तमेवैनमहं मन्ये मारीचं राक्षसं मृगम्॥
Seeing him Lakşmana, struck with fear, said Me-thinks, this deer is the Raksasa Marica.
चरन्तो मृगधां हृष्टाः पापेनोपाधिना वने। अनेन निहता राम राजानः कामरूपिणा॥
This vicious Mārīca, O Rāma, assuming the shape of a deer oftentimes kills at pleasure the kings who come here a-hunting.
अस्य मायाविदो माया मृगरूपमिदं कृतम्। भानुमत् पुरुषव्याघ्र गन्धर्वपुरसंनिभम्॥ मृगो ह्येवंविधो रत्नविचित्रो नास्ति राघव। जगत्यां जगतीनाथ मायैषा हि न संशयः॥
He is cognizant of illusions, by virtue of which he has assumed this shape, O best of men; its countenance is perfectly fine like the abode of Gandharvas and resplendent like the Sun; there is no such jewelled deer on earth. O Rāghava, O Lord of earth, there is no doubt that this is nothing but illusion.
एवं ब्रुवाणं काकुत्स्थं प्रतिवार्य शुचिस्मिता। उवाच सीता संहृष्टा छद्मना हृतचेतना॥
When Lakşınaņa spoke thus Sītā with a pure smile being under the influence of enchantment contradicted him, and being pleased said
आर्यपुत्राभिरामोऽसौ मृगो हरति मे मनः। आनयैनं महाबाहो क्रीडार्थं नो भविष्यति ॥
O son of the worshipful Sire, this deer has attracted my mind, get it for me, pray, O you of mighty arms: it shall be an object of sport for us.
इहाश्रमपदेऽस्माकं बहवः पुण्यदर्शनाः। मृगाश्चरन्ति सहिताश्चमराः सृमरास्तथा॥ ऋक्षाः पृषतसङ्घाश्च वानराकिन्नरास्तथा। विहरन्ति महाबाहो रूपश्रेष्ठा महाबलाः॥ न चान्यः सदृशो राजन् दृष्टः पूर्वं मृगो मया। तेजसा क्षमया दीप्या यथायं मृगसत्तमः॥
Many a beautiful deer range at large in the vicinity of our hermitage such as Camaras, Srmaras, Rksas, Prsatas, Vanaras and Kinnaras. They are all very beautiful and of mighty strength; but O Prince, I have never seen before the like of this deer. In energy, strength and beauty it stands above all deer.
नानावर्णविचित्राङ्गो रत्नभूतो ममाग्रतः। द्योतयन् वनमव्यग्रं द्योतते शशिसंनिभः॥
Its cntire body is diversified with various colours, nay, it is a jewel itself. It moves before me beautifying the forest with its resplendence, like to Moon himself.
अहो रूपमहो लक्ष्मीः स्वरसम्पद्य शोभना। मृगोऽद्भुतो विचित्राङ्गो हृदय हरतीव मे॥
Ah! what beauty, what beautiful a lustre, how musical a voice, this wonderful deer of variegated countenance, has indeed captivated my heart!
यदि ग्रहणमभ्येति जीवन्नेव मृगस्तव। आश्चर्यभूतं भवति विस्मयं जनयिष्यति॥
If can you get by this deer alive, O what wonder, what surprise!
समाप्तवनवासानां राज्यस्थानां च नः पुनः। अन्तःपुरे विभूषार्थो मृग एष भविष्यति॥
When shall we regain our kingdom after the expire of the term of our banishment, this deer shall beautify the interior of our palace.
भरतस्यार्यपुत्रस्य श्वश्रूणां मम च प्रभो। मृगरूपमिदं दिव्यं विस्मयं जनयिष्यति॥
O Lord, truly shall this celestial deer create surprise in Bharata, yourself, me and my mothers-in-law.
जीवन यदि तेऽभ्येति ग्रहणं मृगसत्तमः। अजिनं नरशार्दूल रुचिरं तु भविष्यति ॥
O best of men, if can you not get hold of it alive its skin shall also look very beautiful (to us).
निहतस्यास्य सत्त्वस्य जाम्बूनदमयत्वचि। शष्पबृस्यां विनीतायामिच्छाम्यहमुपासितुम्॥
Spreading on Kuća the skin of this golden deer when killed do I wish to invoke the Almighty.
कामवृत्तमिदं रौद्रं स्त्रीणामसदृशं मतम्। वपुषा त्वस्य सत्त्वस्य विस्मयो जनितो मम॥
It looks (no doubt) unseemly and terrible and smacks of wilfulness, on the part of a wife to command her husband in this way, but I am sunk in surprise seeing the countenance of the deer.
तेन काञ्चनरोम्णा तु मणिप्रवरशृङ्गिणा। तरुणादित्यवर्णेन नक्षत्रपथवर्चसा॥ बभूव राघवस्यापि मनो विस्मयमागतम्। इति सीतावचः श्रुत्वा दृष्ट्वा च मृगमद्भुतम्॥ लोभितस्तेन रूपेण सीतया च प्रचोदितः। उवाच राघवो हृष्टो भ्रातरं लक्ष्मणं वचः॥
Rāma's heart was struck with surprise beholding that wonderful deer having its down resembling gold, horns resembling exquisitely finc diamonds, colour like that of the newly risen Sun, and resplendence like that of the orbit of the planets. Being enchanted by its beauty and spurred on by Sītā's words, Raghava pleased, spoke to his younger brother.
पश्य लक्ष्मण वैदेह्याः स्पृहामुल्लसितामिमाम्। रूपश्रेष्ठतया ह्येष मृगोऽद्य न भविष्यति॥
Behold, O Laksmana, it has immensely excited Vaidehi's desire. On account of its exquisite beauty it shall loose its life to-day.
न वने नन्दनोद्देशे न चैत्ररथसंश्रये। कुतः पृथिव्यां सौमित्रे योऽस्य कश्चिन्समो मृगः॥
It has its equal no where on the earth-neither in the celestial garden nor in the Caitraratha forest.
प्रतिलोमानुलोमाश्च रुचिरा रोमराजयः। शोभन्ते मृगमाश्रित्य चित्राः कनकबिन्दुभिः॥
The hairs of its body being arranged in regular and contrary courses and being painted with golden drops do indeed look very beautiful.
पश्यास्य जृम्भमाणस्य दीप्तामग्निशिखोपमाम्। जिह्वां मुखानिःसरन्तीं मेघादिव शतहदाम्॥
Do you see, while expanding its inouth, its tongue comes out resembling flaming fire like to a thunder-bolt reaving the mass of clouds.
मसारगल्वर्कमुखः शङ्खमुक्तानिभोदरः। कस्य नामानिरूप्योऽसौ न मनो लोभयेन्मृगः॥
Its face is like a glass made of a best blue sapphire, its belly resembling a conch and pearl, and it is very difficult to ascertain its shapes. Beholding it who is there (on earth) whose heart is not enamoured?
कस्य रूपमिदं दृष्ट्वा जाम्बूनदमयप्रभम्। नानारत्नमयं दिव्यं न मनो विस्मयं व्रजेत्॥
Its beauty resembles the rays of gold and is variegated with diverse hues of jewels. Whose heart is not enveloped with surprise beholding such a celestial beauty, O Laksmana?
मांसहेतोरपि मृगान् विहारार्थं च धन्विनः। घ्नन्ति लक्ष्मण राजानो मृगयायां महावने॥
Princes, with bows in their hands, while-a hunting in a deep forest destroy deer either for flesh or for sport.
धनानि व्यवसायेन विचीयन्ते महावने। धातवो विविधाश्चापि मणिरत्नसुवर्णिनः॥
Moreover while engaged in sporting they collect many a jewel and various metals as gold and silver, in the woods.
तत् सारमखिलं नृणां धनं निचयवर्धनम्। मनसा चिन्तितं सर्वं यथा शुक्रस्य लक्ष्मण ॥
There is not the least doubt that these wild riches filling up their coffers are comparatively far better (than the wealth acquired by other sources) like to the objects of enjoyment, enjoyed at their fancy by the people inhabiting the celestial region.
अर्थी येनार्थकृत्येन संव्रजत्यविचारयन्। तमर्थमर्थशास्त्रज्ञाः प्राहुरर्थ्याः सुलक्ष्मण ॥
The object which persons desirous of acquiring wealth follow without any discretion in their actions, is the true definition of wealth given by the political economists.
एतस्य मृगरत्नस्य परायें काञ्चनत्वचि। उपवेक्ष्यति वैदेही मया सह सुमध्यमा॥ न कादली न प्रियकी न प्रवेणी न चाविकी। भवेदेतस्य सदृशी स्पर्शेऽनेनेति मे मतिः॥
Vaidehi of slender waist desire to sit with me on the exquisitely fine golden skin of this gem of a deer, me-seems no deer skin is so comfortable to touch as this neither the skin of Kādali, Priyaki, Praveni nor of Caviki.
एष चैव मृगः श्रीमान् यश्च दिव्यो नभश्चरः। उभावेतौ मृगौ दिव्यौ तारामृगमहीमृगौ॥
Truly handsome in this deer and the one that range in the welkin, indeed these two deer only are celestial—the one that range in the sky* (Mrgasirā) and this that range on earth. This refers to Mrgaşiră, the fifth lunar constellation which resembles a deer.
यदि वायं तथा यन्मां भवेद् वदसि लक्ष्मण। मायैषा राक्षसस्येति कर्तव्योऽस्य वधो मया॥
And if it be a Raksasa's illusion as you say, O Laksmana, then it must be killed by me.
एतेन हि नृशंसेन मारीचेनाकृतात्मना। वने विचरता पूर्वं हिंसिता मुनिपुङ्गवाः॥ उत्थाय बहवोऽनेन मृगयायां जनाधिपाः। निहताः परमेष्वासास्तस्माद् बध्यस्त्वयं मृगः॥
This cruel vicious-souled Mārica made away with many eminent ascetics, while travelling in the forest; and this Räkşasa assuming the shape of an illusive deer destroyed many kings-mighty archers while a-hunting in this forest; it is for this that this deer must be killed.
पुरस्तादिह वातापिः परिभूय तपस्विनः। उदरस्थो द्विजान् हन्ति स्वगर्भोऽश्वतरीमिव ॥
Formerly this Vātăpi entering into the womb of twice-born ones used to come out reaving them like to the embryo of a mule. The name of an Asur devoured by Agastya.
स कदाचिच्चिराल्लोभादाससाद महामुनिम्। अगस्त्यं तेजसा युक्तं भक्ष्यस्तस्य बभूव ह।४२ ।।
Once on a time this Vātāpi approached the eminent saint Agastya and was devoured by him.
समुत्थाने च तदूपं कर्तुकामं समीक्ष्य तम्। उत्स्मयित्वा तु भगवान् वातापिमिदमब्रवीत्॥
After the Šrāddha ceremony had been over, finding that Bātāpi desirous of assuming the shape of a Rākṣasa the great saint Agastya said smiling.
त्वया विगण्य वातापे परिभूताश्च तेजसा। जीवलोके द्विज श्रेष्ठास्तस्मादसि जरां गतः॥
Being blinded with your prowess O Vātāpi, you have destroyed many eminent twice-born ones on this earth and for this that I do digest you.
तद्रक्षो न भवेदेव वातापिरिव लक्ष्मण। मद्विधं योऽतिमन्येत धर्मनित्यं जितेन्द्रियम्॥
Truly that Raksasa, O, Laksmana who wish to surpass one like me who has controlled his senses and is ever engaged in pious offices shall meet with his end like to this Vātāpi.
भवेद्धतोऽयं वातापिरगस्त्येनेव मा गतः। इह त्वं भव संनद्धो यन्त्रितो रक्ष मैथिलीम् ॥
Therefore this Mārīca approaching me shall be killed by me like to Vātāpi being devoured by Agastya. Do you therefore vigilantly protect Vaidehi with mail and armours on.
अस्यामायत्तमस्माकं यत् कृत्यं रघुनन्दन । अहमेनं वधिष्यामि ग्रहीष्याम्यथवा मृगम्॥
It is our prime duty, O descendant of Raghu, to protect Jānaki. I shall either kill this deer or shall get hold of it.
यावद्गच्छामि सौमित्रे मृगमानयितुं द्रुतम्। पश्य लक्ष्मण वैदेह्या मृगत्वचि गतां स्पृहाम्॥
Look, O Laksmana, Vaidehi is extremely anxious to get the skin of this deer I shall therefore proceed at once, O son of Sumitrā, to catch this deer.
त्वचा प्रधानया ह्येष मृगोऽद्य न भविष्यति। अप्रमत्तेन ते भावमाश्रमस्थेन सीतया॥ यावत् पृषतमेकेन सायकेन निहन्म्यहम्। हत्वैतच्चर्म चादाय शीघ्रमेष्यामि लक्ष्मण॥
The skin of this deer is the best of its kind; for certain shall it loose its life today. As long as I do not kill this deer, O Lakşmaņa, do you with Sītā remain with vigilance in this asylum. I shall in no time come back with its skin after killing in with one arrow.
प्रदक्षिणेनातिबलेन पक्षिणा जटायुषा बुद्धिमता च लक्ष्मण। भवाप्रमत्तः प्रतिगृह्य मैथिली प्रतिक्षणं सर्वत एव शङ्कितः॥
Do you stay here, O Lakşmaņa, with Jānakī in constant fear and vigilance, along with the mighty Jațāyu, intelligent and ever engaged in pious offices.