The Jeweled Deer Draws Rama beyond the Hermitage
Aranya Kanda, Chaupai 25
Doha 27 · Movement 1 of 2
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Ravana reaches the forest's edge, and Maricha assumes the body of a marvelous deer. Gold shines across its frame, and jewels seem to have been set into every limb. Sita beholds the creature moving near Panchavati and calls Rama to see its beautiful skin. She asks the Lord of unfailing word to bring her the hide. Rama knows every cause hidden within the moment. Joyfully he rises to accomplish the work of the gods, girds his waist, takes the bow in hand, and fits a lovely arrow.
Before leaving, Rama warns Lakshmana that many night-wanderers roam the forest. He entrusts Sita to his brother's intelligence, discernment, strength, and reading of the hour. The deer sees Rama and runs. The One whom the Vedas seek with neti, neti, whom Shiva cannot reach through meditation, now races through the trees after a creature made of illusion. Maricha comes near, springs far away, appears among the trunks, vanishes into shadow, and shows himself again until the hermitage lies far behind.
Rama takes aim and releases a hard shaft. Maricha falls with a terrible cry. First he calls Lakshmana's name aloud. Then, inwardly, he remembers Rama. As life departs, the golden form dissolves and his demon body appears upon the earth. He remembers the Lord with love, and Rama recognizes the affection hidden within him. The omniscient one grants Maricha a state that even sages find difficult to attain.
The golden illusion falls away, and beneath it Rama finds the love Maricha carried to his death.
Read the passage from the Manas
तेहि बन निकट दसानन गयऊ। तब मारीच कपटमृग भयऊ।। अति बिचित्र कछु बरनि न जाई। कनक देह मनि रचित बनाई।। सीता परम रुचिर मृग देखा। अंग अंग सुमनोहर बेषा।। सुनहु देव रघुबीर कृपाला। एहि मृग कर अति सुंदर छाला।। सत्यसंध प्रभु बधि करि एही। आनहु चर्म कहति बैदेही।। तब रघुपति जानत सब कारन। उठे हरषि सुर काजु सँवारन।। मृग बिलोकि कटि परिकर बाँधा। करतल चाप रुचिर सर साँधा।। प्रभु लछिमनिहि कहा समुझाई। फिरत बिपिन निसिचर बहु भाई।। सीता केरि करेहु रखवारी। बुधि बिबेक बल समय बिचारी।। प्रभुहि बिलोकि चला मृग भाजी। धाए रामु सरासन साजी।। निगम नेति सिव ध्यान न पावा। मायामृग पाछें सो धावा।। कबहुँ निकट पुनि दूरि पराई। कबहुँक प्रगटइ कबहुँ छपाई।। प्रगटत दुरत करत छल भूरी। एहि बिधि प्रभुहि गयउ लै दूरी।। तब तकि राम कठिन सर मारा। धरनि परेउ करि घोर पुकारा।। लछिमन कर प्रथमहिं लै नामा। पाछें सुमिरेसि मन महुँ रामा।। प्रान तजत प्रगटेसि निज देहा। सुमिरेसि रामु समेत सनेहा।। अंतर प्रेम तासु पहिचाना। मुनि दुर्लभ गति दीन्हि सुजाना।।
Near that forest the ten-headed one arrived, and Maricha assumed the form of a deceptive deer. It was wondrous beyond all description, a golden body fashioned and adorned with jewels. Sita beheld that supremely beautiful mriga, every limb dressed in a most captivating form. 'Listen, O compassionate Raghubir, this deer has an extraordinarily beautiful skin.' 'O Satyasandha Prabhu, kill this creature and bring me its hide,' said Vaidehi. Then Raghupati, knowing the full reason behind it all, rose joyfully to accomplish the work of the devas. Seeing the deer, he girded his waist, took his bow in hand, and fitted a beautiful arrow to the string. The Lord instructed Lakshmana with care: 'Many nishachara roam this forest, brother. Guard Sita well, using buddhi, viveka, strength, and a clear reading of the moment.' Seeing Prabhu approach, the deer fled. Rama pursued with his bow at the ready. He whom the Vedas can only call 'neti, neti,' whom Shiva cannot reach even in deepest dhyana, ran after that illusory deer. Sometimes it darted near, then bounded far away. Sometimes it showed itself, sometimes it vanished. Appearing, disappearing, playing trick upon trick, it led Prabhu far from the ashrama. Then Rama took careful aim and released a fierce arrow. The creature fell to the earth with a terrible cry. First it called out Lakshmana's name, then in its mind it remembered Rama. As the prana departed, Maricha revealed his true form and remembered Rama with love. The all-knowing Lord recognized the prema hidden within him, and granted him a gati that even munis find difficult to attain.