Maricha as the Golden Deer and His Death
To assist Ravana's scheme, Maricha takes the enchanting form of a golden deer. Rama ends the deception with his arrow, and Maricha departs with the Lord in his final remembrance.
Aranya Kand · Episode 11 / 18
Episode Text
लछिमनहूँ यह मरमु न जाना। जो कछु चरित रचा भगवाना॥ दसमुख गयउ जहाँ मारीचा। नाइ माथ स्वारथ रत नीचा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
lachimanhūṃ yaha maramu na jānā। jo kachu carita racā bhagavānā॥ dasamukha gayau jahām̐ mārīcā। nāi mātha svāratha rata nīcā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Lakshmana too did not understand this secret—that whatever play the Lord had arranged. Ravana, low and devoted to self-interest, went to Maricha and bowed his head to him.
नवनि नीच कै अति दुखदाई। जिमि अंकुस धनु उरग बिलाई॥ भयदायक खल कै प्रिय बानी। जिमि अकाल के कुसुम भवानी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
navani nīca kai ati dukhadāī। jimi aṃkusa dhanu uraga bilāī॥ bhayadāyaka khala kai priya bānī। jimi akāla ke kusuma bhavānī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Bowing before the lowly is exceedingly painful, like the bowing of an elephant goad, a bow, a serpent, or a cat. O Bhavani, the sweet speech of the wicked is likewise fearsome, like flowers out of season.
करि पूजा मारीच तब सादर पूछी बात। कवन हेतु मन ब्यग्र अति अकसर आयहु तात॥ २४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kari pūjā mārīca taba sādara pūchī bāta। kavana hetu mana byagra ati akasara āyahu tāta॥ 24 ॥
Meaning:
Maricha then worshiped him and respectfully asked, “My dear one, for what reason is your mind so troubled, and why have you come alone?”
दसमुख सकल कथा तेहि आगें। कही सहित अभिमान अभागें॥ होहु कपट मृग तुम्ह छलकारी। जेहि बिधि हरि आनौं नृपनारी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dasamukha sakala kathā tehi āgẽ। kahī sahita abhimāna abhāgẽ॥ hohu kapaṭa mṛga tumha chalakārī। jehi bidhi hari ānauṃ nṛpanārī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Ravana told him the whole story in his misfortune and pride, and then said: “Become a deceitful deer, so that by some means I may carry off the princess.”
तेहिं पुनि कहा सुनहु दससीसा। ते नररूप चराचर ईसा॥ तासों तात बयरु नहिं कीजै। मारें मरिअ जिआएँ जीजै॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tehiṃ puni kahā sunahu dasasīsā। te nararūpa carācara īsā॥ tāsõ tāta bayaru nahiṃ kījai। mārẽ mari’a jiyāẽ jījai॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Then he said, “Listen, O Ten-headed One. They are the Supreme Lord in human form, the Lord of all moving and unmoving beings. Therefore, my friend, do not bear enmity toward them. One dies only by their will and lives only by their giving life.”
मुनि मख राखन गयउ कुमारा। बिनु फर सर रघुपति मोहि मारा॥ सत जोजन आयउँ छन माहीं। तिन्ह सन बयरु किएँ भल नाहीं॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
muni makha rākhana gayau kumārā। binu phara sara raghupati mohi mārā॥ sata jojana āyauṃ chana māhīṃ। tinha san bayaru kieṃ bhala nāhīṃ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
That very prince went to protect Sage Vishvamitra’s sacrifice. At that time Lord Raghupati struck me with an arrow without a tip, and in a moment I was sent a hundred yojanas away. There is no good in bearing enmity toward them.
भइ मम कीट भृंग की नाई। जहँ तहँ मैं देखउँ दोउ भाई॥ जौं नर तात तदपि अति सूरा। तिन्हहि बिरोधि न आइहि पूरा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bhaī mama kīṭa bhṛṃga kī nāī। jaham̐ taham̐ maiṃ dekhaũ do’u bhāī॥ jauṃ nara tāta tadapi ati sūrā। tinhahi virodhi na āihi pūrā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
My state has become like that of a worm and a bee. Wherever I look, I see those two brothers, Rama and Lakshmana. And, my friend, even if they are human beings, they are still very valiant. Opposition to them will not succeed.
जेहिं ताड़का सुबाहु हति खंडेउ हर कोदंड। खर दूषन तिसिरा बधेउ मनुज कि अस बरिबंड॥ २५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jehiṃ tāṛakā subāhu hati khaṇḍeu hara kodaṃḍa। khara dūṣana tisirā badheu manuja ki asa baribaṃḍa॥ 25 ॥
Meaning:
He who killed Tadka and Subahu, broke Shiva’s bow, and slew Khara, Dushana, and Trishira—can such a mighty being really be a mere human?
जाहु भवन कुल कुसल बिचारी। सुनत जरा दीन्हिसि बहु गारी॥ गुरु जिमि मूढ़ करसि मम बोधा। कहु जग मोहि समान को जोधा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jāhu bhavana kula kusala bicārī। sunata jarā dīnhisi bahu gārī॥ guru jimi mūḍha karasi mama bodhā। kahu jaga mohi samāna ko jodhā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Therefore, considering the welfare of your own lineage, go back home. Hearing this, Ravana was enraged and hurled many abuses. [He said:] 'O fool! Do you try to instruct me like a guru? Tell me, who in the world is a warrior equal to me?'
तब मारीच हृदयँ अनुमाना। नवहि बिरोधें नहिं कल्याना॥ सस्त्री मर्मी प्रभु सठ धनी। बैद बंदि कबि भानस गुनी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
taba mārīca hṛdayaṃ anumānā। navahi virodheṃ nahiṃ kalyānā॥ sastrī marmī prabhu satha dhanī। baida bandi kabi bhānasa gunī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Then Maricha reflected in his heart that there is no good in opposing these nine kinds of persons: one armed with weapons, a knower of secrets, a lord, a fool, a wealthy man, a physician, a bard, a poet, and a cook.
उभय भाँति देखा निज मरना। तब ताकिसि रघुनायक सरना॥ उतरु देत मोहि बधब अभागें। कस न मरौं रघुपति सर लागें॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ubhaya bhāṃti dekhā nija maranā। taba tākisi raghunāyaka saranā॥ uttaru deta mohi badhaba abhāgeṃ। kasa na maraṃ raghupati sara lāgẽ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
When Maricha saw death before him in either case, he took refuge in Raghunath. He thought, 'If I answer him, the wretched one will kill me. Why should I not die by Raghupati's arrow?'
अस जियँ जानि दसानन संगा। चला राम पद प्रेम अभंगा॥ मन अति हरष जनाव न तेही। आजु देखिहउँ परम सनेही॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
asa jiyaṃ jāni dasānana saṃgā। calā rāma pada prema abhagā॥ mana ati haraṣa janāva na tehī। āju dekhihauṃ parama sanehī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Thinking this in his heart, he went along with Ravana. He had unbroken love for Rama's feet. In his heart he was greatly delighted at the thought, 'Today I shall see my most beloved Rama,' but he did not reveal that joy to Ravana.
निज परम प्रीतम देखि लोचन सुफल करि सुख पाइहौं। श्री सहित अनुज समेत कृपानिकेत पद मन लाइहौं॥ निर्बान दायक क्रोध जा कर भगति अबसहि बसकरी। निज पानि सर संधानि सो मोहि बधिहि सुखसागर हरी॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nija parama prītama dekhi locana suphala kari sukha pāihauṃ। śrī sahita anuja sameta kṛpāniketa pada mana lāihauṃ॥ nirbāna dāyaka krodha jā kara bhagati abasahi basakarī। nija pāni sara sandhāni so mohi badhih i sukhasāgara harī॥
Meaning:
[He thought to himself:] 'Seeing my dearest beloved, I shall make my eyes fruitful and attain bliss. With Sita and with Lakshmana, I shall place my mind on the feet of the abode of mercy, Sri Rama. He whose anger grants liberation, and whose devotion subdues even the unconquerable, ah! that ocean of bliss, Sri Hari, will string his arrow with his own hand and kill me!'
मम पाछें धर धावत धरें सरासन बान। फिरि फिरि प्रभुहि बिलोकिहउँ धन्य न मो सम आन॥ २६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mama pāchẽ dhara dhāvata dharẽ sarāsana bāna। phiri phiri prabhuhi bilokihauṃ dhanya na mo sama āna॥ 26 ॥
Meaning:
Bearing bow and arrows, the Lord will run behind me to catch me, and I shall look upon Him again and again. No one is as blessed as I am.
तेहि बन निकट दसानन गयऊ। तब मारीच कपटमृग भयऊ॥ अति बिचित्र कछु बरनि न जाई। कनक देह मनि रचित बनाई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tehi bana nikaṭa dasānana gayū। taba mārīca kapaṭamṛga bhayū॥ ati bicitra kachu barani na jāī। kanaka deha mani racita banāī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
When Ravana approached the edge of that forest, Maricha became a deceptive deer. It was exceedingly wondrous and beyond description; its body was fashioned of gold and studded with jewels.
सीता परम रुचिर मृग देखा। अंग अंग सुमनोहर बेषा॥ सुनहु देव रघुबीर कृपाला। एहि मृग कर अति सुंदर छाला॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sītā parama rucira mṛga dekhā। aṃga aṃga sumanohara beṣā॥ sunahu deva raghubīra kṛpālā। ehi mṛga kara ati sundara chālā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Sita saw that exceedingly lovely deer, whose every limb was wonderfully beautiful. She said, 'O Lord, O merciful Raghubir, listen. The hide of this deer is very beautiful.'
सत्यसंध प्रभु बधि करि एही। आनहु चर्म कहति बैदेही॥ तब रघुपति जानत सब कारन। उठे हरषि सुर काजु सँवारन॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
satyasaṃdha prabhu badhi kari ehī। ānahu carma kahati baidehī॥ taba raghupati jānata saba kārana। uṭhe haraṣi sura kāju saṃvāran॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Sita said, 'O truthful Lord, kill it and bring its hide.' Then Raghupati, though knowing the whole reason for Maricha's having taken the form of a deceptive deer, rose joyfully to accomplish the work of the gods.
मृग बिलोकि कटि परिकर बाँधा। करतल चाप रुचिर सर साँधा॥ प्रभु लछिमनहि कहा समुझाई। फिरत बिपिन निसिचर बहु भाई॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mṛga biloki kaṭi parikara bāṃdhā। karatala cāpa rucira sara sāṃdhā॥ prabhu lachimanahi kahā samujhāī। phirata bipina nisicara bahu bhāī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing the deer, Rama tied his waist sash and took up the bow, fitting a graceful arrow to it. Then the Lord, explaining to Lakshmana, said, 'Brother, many demons roam in the forest.'
सीता केरि करेहु रखवारी। बुधि बिबेक बल समय बिचारी॥ प्रभुहि बिलोकि चला मृग भाजी। धाए रामु सरासन साजी॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sītā keri karehu rakhavārī। budhi bibeka bala samaya bicārī॥ prabhuhi biloki calā mṛga bhājī। dhāe rāmu sarāsana sājī॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
Protect Sita by considering strength and timing with wisdom and discernment. Seeing the Lord, the deer fled. Lord Rama also strung his bow and ran after it.
निगम नेति सिव ध्यान न पावा। मायामृग पाछें सो धावा॥ कबहुँ निकट पुनि दूरि पराई। कबहुँक प्रगटइ कबहुँ छपाई॥ ६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nigama neti siva dhyāna na pāvā। māyāmṛga pāchẽ so dhāvā॥ kabahuṃ nikaṭa puni dūri parāī। kabahuṃka pragaṭai kabahuṃ chapāī॥ 6 ॥
Meaning:
The Vedas, saying 'not this, not this,' cannot reach Him, and even Shiva cannot attain Him in meditation—yet that very Rama was running after the deer made of illusion. It would sometimes come near and then run far away; sometimes it appeared and sometimes it hid itself.
प्रगटत दुरत करत छल भूरी। एहि बिधि प्रभुहि गयउ लै दूरी॥ तब तकि राम कठिन सर मारा। धरनि परेउ करि घोर पुकारा॥ ७ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
pragaṭata durata karata chala bhūrī। ehi bidhi prabhuhi gayau lai dūrī॥ taba taki rāma kaṭhina sara mārā। dharani pareu kari ghora pukārā॥ 7 ॥
Meaning:
Thus appearing and disappearing, and using many tricks, it led the Lord far away. Then Rama aimed and shot a fierce arrow; struck by it, it fell to the earth with a terrible cry.
लछिमन कर प्रथमहिं लै नामा। पाछें सुमिरेसि मन महुँ रामा॥ प्रान तजत प्रगटेसि निज देहा। सुमिरेसि रामु समेत सनेहा॥ ८ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
lachimana kara prathamahiṃ lai nāmā। pāchẽ sumiresi mana mahuṃ rāmā॥ prāna tajata pragaṭesi nija dehā। sumiresi rāmu sameta sanehā॥ 8 ॥
Meaning:
First he took Lakshmana's name, and afterward remembered Rama in his heart. As life departed, he revealed his own body and remembered Rama with love.
बिपुल सुमन सुर बरषहिं गावहिं प्रभु गुन गाथ। निज पद दीन्ह असुर कहुँ दीनबंधु रघुनाथ॥ २७ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bipula sumana sura baraṣahiṃ gāvahiṃ prabhu guna gātha। nija pada dīnha asura kahuṃ dīnabandhu raghunātha॥ 27 ॥
Meaning:
The gods showered abundant flowers and sang the Lord's glorious praises, proclaiming that Raghunath, the Friend of the lowly, had granted even the demon his own supreme state.