राजीवचित्रपृष्ठः स विरराज महामृगः। रामाश्रमपदाभ्याशे विचचार यथासुखम्
With a back patterned like a lotus, that great deer shone; near Rāma's hermitage, he wandered at ease.
पुनर्गत्वा निवृत्तश्च विचचार मृगोत्तमः। गत्वा मुहूर्तं त्वरया पुनः प्रतिनिवर्तते
Again moving away and returning, the excellent deer wandered; after departing for a moment with speed, he would again come back.
विक्रीडंश्च क्वचिद् भूमौ पुनरेव निषीदति। आश्रमद्वारमागम्य मृगयूथानि गच्छति
Sometimes frolicking on the ground, he then sits down again; approaching the hermitage gate, he moves among the herds of deer.
मृगयूथैरनुगतः पुनरेव निवर्तते। सीतादर्शनमाकांक्षन् राक्षसो मृगतां गतः
Followed by the herds of deer, he turns back again, longing for Sita's gaze, the demon who has taken the form of a deer.
परिभ्रमति चित्राणि मण्डलानि विनिष्पतन्। समुद्वीक्ष्य च सर्वे तं मृगा येऽन्ये वनेचराः
He circles about, tracing dazzling patterns, and as he moves, all the other forest-dwelling deer gaze at him.
उपगम्य समाघ्राय विद्रवन्ति दिशो दश। राक्षसः सोऽपि तान् वन्यान् मृगान् मृगवधे रतः
They approach and sniff him, then scatter in all ten directions; yet the demon, delighting in the hunt, mingles with those wild deer.
प्रच्छादनार्थं भावस्य न भक्षयति संस्पृशन्। तस्मिन् नेव ततः काले वैदेही शुभलोचना
But for the sake of concealing his true nature, he does not eat, though he touches them; and at that very moment, Vaidehi of lovely eyes—
कुसुमापचये व्यग्रा पादपानत्यवर्तत। कर्णिकारानशोकांश्च चूतांश्च मदिरेक्षणा
Absorbed in gathering flowers, she wandered among the trees—karnikara, ashoka, and mango—her eyes intoxicating.
कुसुमान्यपचिन्वन्ती चचार रुचिरानना। अनर्हा वनवासस्य सा तं रत्नमयं मृगम्
Collecting flowers, the radiant-faced one roamed; unfit for forest life, she beheld that jewel-like deer.
मुक्तामणिविचित्राङ्गं ददर्श परमाङ्गना। तं वै रुचिरदन्तोष्ठं रूप्यधातुतनूरुहम्
The supreme lady saw the deer with limbs adorned in pearls and gems, with gleaming teeth and lips, and silvery, metallic hair.
विस्मयोत्फुल्लनयना सस्नेहं समुदैक्षत। स च तां रामदयितां पश्यन् मायामयो मृगः
Her eyes widened in astonishment as she gazed at him with affection; and he, the magical deer, looked upon Rama’s beloved.
विचचार ततस्तत्र दीपयन्निव तद् वनम्। अदृष्टपूर्वं दृष्ट्वा तं नानारत्नमयं मृगम्। विस्मयं परमं सीता जगाम जनकात्मजा
He wandered there, as if illuminating that forest; seeing that never-before-seen, many-gemmed deer, Sita, daughter of Janaka, was filled with utmost wonder.
thumb|त्रिचत्वारिंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे त्रिचत्वारिंशः सर्गः ॥३-
Listen now to the forty-third sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇyakāṇḍa.
सा तं सम्प्रेक्ष्य सुश्रोणी कुसुमानि विचिन्वती। हेमराजतवर्णाभ्यां पार्श्वाभ्यामुपशोभितम्
She, of lovely hips, while gathering flowers, beheld him—his sides shining with the hues of gold and silver.
प्रहृष्टा चानवद्याङ्गी मृष्टहाटकवर्णिनी। भर्तारमपि चक्रन्द लक्ष्मणं चैव सायुधम्
Delighted and flawless in form, radiant as polished gold, she called out for her husband and for Lakshmana, armed.
आहूयाहूय च पुनस्तं मृगं साधु वीक्षते। आगच्छागच्छ शीघ्रं वै आर्यपुत्र सहानुज
Calling again and again, she gazed intently at that deer; 'Come, come quickly, O noble one, with your younger brother!'
तावाहूतौ नरव्याघ्रौ वैदेह्या रामलक्ष्मणौ। वीक्षमाणौ तु तं देशं तदा ददृशतुर्मृगम्
Thus summoned by Vaidehi, the two tigers among men, Rama and Lakshmana, looked about that place and then saw the deer.
शङ्कमानस्तु तं दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मणो वाक्यमब्रवीत्। तमेवैनमहं मन्ये मारीचं राक्षसं मृगम्
Seeing him, Lakshmana, suspicious, spoke these words: 'I think this deer is none other than Maricha, the demon.'
चरन्तो मृगयां हृष्टाः पापेनोपाधिना वने। अनेन निहता राम राजानः कामरूपिणा
'Roaming the forest, delighted in the hunt, kings have been slain by this shape-shifting demon, O Rama.'
अस्य मायाविदो माया मृगरूपमिदं कृतम्। भानुमत् पुरुषव्याघ्र गन्धर्वपुरसंनिभम्
'This is the illusion of a master of illusion; this deer form has been made by him, O tiger among men, shining like a Gandharva city.'
मृगो ह्येवंविधो रत्नविचित्रो नास्ति राघव। जगत्यां जगतीनाथ मायैषा हि न संशयः
O Rāghava, such a jewel-adorned deer does not exist; Lord of the earth, this is surely an illusion, there is no doubt.
एवं ब्रुवाणं काकुत्स्थं प्रतिवार्य शुचिस्मिता। उवाच सीता संहृष्टा छद्मना हृतचेतना
Interrupting Kākutstha as he spoke thus, the pure-smiling Sītā, delighted and deceived in mind, replied.
आर्यपुत्राभिरामोऽसौ मृगो हरति मे मनः। आनयैनं महाबाहो क्रीडार्थं नो भविष्यति
Noble prince, this charming deer captivates my heart; bring it to us, mighty-armed one, it will be for our play.
इहाश्रमपदेऽस्माकं बहवः पुण्यदर्शनाः। मृगाश्चरन्ति सहिताश्चमराः सृमरास्तथा
Here at our hermitage, many auspicious-looking deer roam together—chamara, sṛmara, and others as well.
ऋक्षाः पृषतसङ्घाश्च वानराः किन्नरास्तथा। विहरन्ति महाबाहो रूपश्रेष्ठा महाबलाः
Bears, herds of antelope, monkeys, and kinnaras too, O mighty-armed one, wander here, splendid in form and great in strength.
न चान्यः सदृशो राजन् दृष्टः पूर्वं मृगो मया। तेजसा क्षमया दीप्त्या यथायं मृगसत्तमः
No other deer like this, O king, have I seen before—neither in brilliance, patience, nor radiance, as this foremost among deer.
नानावर्णविचित्राङ्गो रत्नभूतो ममाग्रतः। द्योतयन् वनमव्यग्रं शोभते शशिसंनिभः
With its multicolored, wondrous body, like a jewel before me, illuminating the undisturbed forest, it shines like the moon.
अहो रूपमहो लक्ष्मीः स्वरसम्पच्च शोभना। मृगोऽद्भुतो विचित्राङ्गो हृदयं हरतीव मे
Ah, its form! Ah, its beauty! Its voice and splendor are lovely; this marvelous, variegated deer seems to steal my heart.
यदि ग्रहणमभ्येति जीवन् नेव मृगस्तव। आश्चर्यभूतं भवति विस्मयं जनयिष्यति
If you capture this deer alive, it will be astonishing and inspire wonder.
समाप्तवनवासानां राज्यस्थानां च नः पुनः। अन्तःपुरे विभूषार्थो मृग एष भविष्यति
When our forest exile ends and we return to the kingdom, this deer will serve as an ornament in the palace.