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.
भरतस्यार्यपुत्रस्य श्वश्रूणां मम च प्रभो। मृगरूपमिदं दिव्यं विस्मयं जनयिष्यति
For Bharata, noble prince, for my mothers-in-law, and for me, O lord, this divine deer form will inspire wonder.
जीवन्न यदि तेऽभ्येति ग्रहणं मृगसत्तमः। अजिनं नरशार्दूल रुचिरं तु भविष्यति
If you capture this foremost deer alive, O tiger among men, its beautiful skin will be yours.
निहतस्यास्य सत्त्वस्य जाम्बूनदमयत्वचि। शष्पबृस्यां विनीतायामिच्छाम्यहमुपासितुम्
If this creature is slain, I wish to worship its golden skin, laid upon the grass mat.
कामवृत्तमिदं रौद्रं स्त्रीणामसदृशं मतम्। वपुषा त्वस्य सत्त्वस्य विस्मयो जनितो मम
This desire is fierce and unbefitting for women, I think; yet the form of this creature has filled me with wonder.
तेन काञ्चनरोम्णा तु मणिप्रवरशृङ्गिणा। तरुणादित्यवर्णेन नक्षत्रपथवर्चसा
With its golden hair, its splendid jeweled horns, its youthful sun-like color, and the brilliance of the starry path—
बभूव राघवस्यापि मनो विस्मयमागतम्। इति सीतावचः श्रुत्वा दृष्ट्वा च मृगमद्भुतम्
Even Rāghava's mind was struck with wonder, hearing Sītā's words and seeing the marvelous deer.
लोभितस्तेन रूपेण सीतया च प्रचोदितः। उवाच राघवो हृष्टो भ्रातरं लक्ष्मणं वचः
Enchanted by its form and urged by Sītā, Rāghava, delighted, spoke to his brother Lakṣmaṇa.
पश्य लक्ष्मण वैदेह्याः स्पृहामुल्लसितामिमाम्। रूपश्रेष्ठतया ह्येष मृगोऽद्य न भविष्यति
Look, Lakṣmaṇa, at Vaidehī's eager longing; for its supreme beauty, this deer will not remain today.
न वने नन्दनोद्देशे न चैत्ररथसंश्रये। कुतः पृथिव्यां सौमित्रे योऽस्य कश्चित् समो मृगः
In the forest, in the groves of Nandana, nor in the retreats of Caitraratha—where on earth, O Saumitri, is there any deer equal to this one?
प्रतिलोमानुलोमाश्च रुचिरा रोमराजयः। शोभन्ते मृगमाश्रित्य चित्राः कनकबिन्दुभिः
Beautiful rows of hair, both against and with the grain, shine upon this deer, adorned with varied golden spots.