Seetha was completely held spellbound by that Golden Deer that was brightened in one flank with the colour of gold and the other of silver. In a frenzy of utter amazement she shouted for the attention of her husband and also that of Lakshmana who was presently armed. Rama and Lakshmana came there and then they saw that Golden Deer.
But Lakshmana became incredulous on seeing it and told Rama, "I guess this is a hoax. I believe that the malicious rakshash Maareecha has come in the guise of this deer with some evil design.
"Oh, Rama, I have heard that when kings, engaged in hunting games, were delightedly moving in the forest, this Maareecha killed many of them by hoodwinking them by resorting to many harmless disguises. Maareecha is an expert in many wiles and he has now assumed the form of this Golden Deer.
"You know very well that this kind of amazing animal with gemlike dapples is nonexistent in the world. Hence this is truly a phantasm. There is no doubt about it."
Unfortunately Seetha was not in a mood to agree with Lakshmana. She was so attracted by that remarkable, surprising, odd, strange, amazing, extraordinary, fantastic, incredible, astonishing, staggering, eye-popping, marvelous, startling, peculiar, awesome, phenomenal, astounding and miraculous deer. She said "Oh, that delightful deer is stealing my heart. Please bring it round, it will be our plaything. Here in the threshold of our hermitage many animals with adorable manifestations are moving about in flocks and herds, like Caamara deer and Srimara deer. We also have animals that are excellent in their form like monkeys. Likewise herds of Kinnara deer, spotteddeer, and bears of great might are freely moving here.
"See how this extraordinary deer is appearing by way of its brilliance, tameness and by the lustre of its skin. I have not so far seen any animal coequal to this. Diversely colored, amazingly limbed, and spotted with gemlike dapples it is shining forth like a deer that is completely gemmy, and while nonchalantly moving before me it is enlivening the forest like the moon. Ah, what a form, ah, what a brilliance, what a beautiful bleat! This amazingly limbed deer is wonderful, and this is stealing my heart. It will be surprising if this deer draws into your capture alive and well, as it creates astonishment to one and all. When we return to the kingdom on completing our dwelling in the forest this deer becomes a masterpiece showpiece in the palace chambers for us.
"Oh, lord, the form of this deer would create an excellent jubilation to Bharata, to my mothers-in-law, and to all the onlookers. If you cannot get that deer alive, it is okay for me to have it as a corpse as its gorgeous deerskin will be a remnant of it. I wish to sit along with you on its golden deerskin, overlaying it on a seat of tender darbha grassblades, in case the deer is felled.
"Tradition says that this sort of unruly self-seeking is unbefitting to women. Nevertheless that deer's beautiful body is inducing curiosity in me. You know that a thing of beauty is joy for ever!"
Rama was inclined to agree with Seetha for the reason that that deer's horns would vie with excellent sapphires, its golden coat with the glitter of tender sun, and its ambience with silver spots on its coat with a clear sky in the night with twinkling stars. He told his brother "Lakshmana, behold this enthusiastic delight of Vaidehi. I am not aware that a deer with such an excellent form exists in this forest. Or else, does it exist in Nandana Gardens of Indra - no, it cannot be there; in the adjoins of Caitraratha Gardens of Kubera - no, it will not be there; then how can there be some deer on earth which is similar to this!
"Amazing are its hairlines with hair upturned at some places and downturned at other, and the golden spots embedded on the coat of the deer are glittery. See its tongue that is exserting from its mouth while it is yawning, which is similar to the flaring tongue of fire and to the lightning from a cloud. Its face is like a mug made up of sapphires, its paunch is pearly and conchoidal. Whose heart that will not be lured for this deer with an inexplicable beauty? On seeing at this astounding look of the deer which is golden in glitter and bejeweled numerously as it were, whose heart is it that will not be transported into astonishment? Kings pursuing games of hunting in great forests, oh, Lakshmana, will be felling deer either for the sake of flesh, or just for the purpose of sporting archery. And exerting themselves in great forests, they, by far, amass forest produce, ores, jewels, gemstones and the gravel of gold.
"Everything of that wealth from forest produce will be filling the treasuries of kings.
"It is the concerted opinion of financial experts as well as those who are very well off financially that getting something which is very rare and very hard to get will be appreciated by one and all and is lauded as a real wealth.
"The comely Vaidehi will be sitting on that invaluable golden skin of that gem of a deer along with me.
"I think the skin of Kadali deer, or of Priyaki deer, or of Praveni deer, or as a matter of fact the skins of the best breed of deer or sheep will not be a match to the deerskin of this deer, in every respect.
"We know about the magnificent deer in the stellar region. This deer on earth is no way less magnificent than the other that moves in the skies remaining in the stellar region.
"You are telling me that this is a hoax by that rakshash Maareecha. If that is correct then that deer or Maareecha deserves to be eliminated for the reason that he has tortured many eminent sages earlier when he was on the prowl in the forests, and rebelliously killed many kings who were excellent archers, while they were in hunting games.
"The rakshaksh Vaataapi who held ascetics in contempt was here earlier, and staying in the stomachs of Brahmans he used to come out by ripping their stomachs open and thus he was killing Brahmans, like a calf killing its own mother at its time of birth by ripping the womb of its own mother.
"On one occasion after some time, that Vaataapi avariciously obtained that great saint and the one who is endowed with effulgence, namely Agastya, as an eatable; but actually that rakshash became an eatable for the sage. On observing the rakshash Vaataapi who was trying to assume his original form of a ram in order to come out of his stomach, that godly saint Agastya spoke this to Vaataapi with a scornful smile 'Oh, Vaataapi, you have irreverently eradicated the best Brahmans in this world owing to your might, therefore I have assimilated you' and digested him in his stomach.
"Lakshmana, if the deer is in fact Maareecha then he like Vaataapi should not be alive any longer. Lakshmana, you stay here in all preparedness and guard Maithili steadfastly. I wish to catch this deer, Soumitri. If I could not catch it then I will kill it. I am going forthwith to fetch that deer. See how Vaidehi is completely bewitched by that deer. On second thoughts I am inclined to agree with you that the deer must be a mysterious being. If that is proved, then I will not allow it to survive any longer. Apply yourself vigilantly, Oh, Lakshmana, while staying in the hermitage guarding Seetha. I will return as quickly as possible.
"Oh, Lakshmana, take a good care of Maithili along with the forthright, formidable and fatherly bird Jatayu, and be watchful and suspicious from everywhere and every moment." Then Rama started to get the deer.
==========================================================
But Lakshmana became incredulous on seeing it and told Rama, "I guess this is a hoax. I believe that the malicious rakshash Maareecha has come in the guise of this deer with some evil design.
"Oh, Rama, I have heard that when kings, engaged in hunting games, were delightedly moving in the forest, this Maareecha killed many of them by hoodwinking them by resorting to many harmless disguises. Maareecha is an expert in many wiles and he has now assumed the form of this Golden Deer.
"You know very well that this kind of amazing animal with gemlike dapples is nonexistent in the world. Hence this is truly a phantasm. There is no doubt about it."
Unfortunately Seetha was not in a mood to agree with Lakshmana. She was so attracted by that remarkable, surprising, odd, strange, amazing, extraordinary, fantastic, incredible, astonishing, staggering, eye-popping, marvelous, startling, peculiar, awesome, phenomenal, astounding and miraculous deer. She said "Oh, that delightful deer is stealing my heart. Please bring it round, it will be our plaything. Here in the threshold of our hermitage many animals with adorable manifestations are moving about in flocks and herds, like Caamara deer and Srimara deer. We also have animals that are excellent in their form like monkeys. Likewise herds of Kinnara deer, spotteddeer, and bears of great might are freely moving here.
"See how this extraordinary deer is appearing by way of its brilliance, tameness and by the lustre of its skin. I have not so far seen any animal coequal to this. Diversely colored, amazingly limbed, and spotted with gemlike dapples it is shining forth like a deer that is completely gemmy, and while nonchalantly moving before me it is enlivening the forest like the moon. Ah, what a form, ah, what a brilliance, what a beautiful bleat! This amazingly limbed deer is wonderful, and this is stealing my heart. It will be surprising if this deer draws into your capture alive and well, as it creates astonishment to one and all. When we return to the kingdom on completing our dwelling in the forest this deer becomes a masterpiece showpiece in the palace chambers for us.
"Oh, lord, the form of this deer would create an excellent jubilation to Bharata, to my mothers-in-law, and to all the onlookers. If you cannot get that deer alive, it is okay for me to have it as a corpse as its gorgeous deerskin will be a remnant of it. I wish to sit along with you on its golden deerskin, overlaying it on a seat of tender darbha grassblades, in case the deer is felled.
"Tradition says that this sort of unruly self-seeking is unbefitting to women. Nevertheless that deer's beautiful body is inducing curiosity in me. You know that a thing of beauty is joy for ever!"
Rama was inclined to agree with Seetha for the reason that that deer's horns would vie with excellent sapphires, its golden coat with the glitter of tender sun, and its ambience with silver spots on its coat with a clear sky in the night with twinkling stars. He told his brother "Lakshmana, behold this enthusiastic delight of Vaidehi. I am not aware that a deer with such an excellent form exists in this forest. Or else, does it exist in Nandana Gardens of Indra - no, it cannot be there; in the adjoins of Caitraratha Gardens of Kubera - no, it will not be there; then how can there be some deer on earth which is similar to this!
"Amazing are its hairlines with hair upturned at some places and downturned at other, and the golden spots embedded on the coat of the deer are glittery. See its tongue that is exserting from its mouth while it is yawning, which is similar to the flaring tongue of fire and to the lightning from a cloud. Its face is like a mug made up of sapphires, its paunch is pearly and conchoidal. Whose heart that will not be lured for this deer with an inexplicable beauty? On seeing at this astounding look of the deer which is golden in glitter and bejeweled numerously as it were, whose heart is it that will not be transported into astonishment? Kings pursuing games of hunting in great forests, oh, Lakshmana, will be felling deer either for the sake of flesh, or just for the purpose of sporting archery. And exerting themselves in great forests, they, by far, amass forest produce, ores, jewels, gemstones and the gravel of gold.
"Everything of that wealth from forest produce will be filling the treasuries of kings.
"It is the concerted opinion of financial experts as well as those who are very well off financially that getting something which is very rare and very hard to get will be appreciated by one and all and is lauded as a real wealth.
"The comely Vaidehi will be sitting on that invaluable golden skin of that gem of a deer along with me.
"I think the skin of Kadali deer, or of Priyaki deer, or of Praveni deer, or as a matter of fact the skins of the best breed of deer or sheep will not be a match to the deerskin of this deer, in every respect.
"We know about the magnificent deer in the stellar region. This deer on earth is no way less magnificent than the other that moves in the skies remaining in the stellar region.
"You are telling me that this is a hoax by that rakshash Maareecha. If that is correct then that deer or Maareecha deserves to be eliminated for the reason that he has tortured many eminent sages earlier when he was on the prowl in the forests, and rebelliously killed many kings who were excellent archers, while they were in hunting games.
"The rakshaksh Vaataapi who held ascetics in contempt was here earlier, and staying in the stomachs of Brahmans he used to come out by ripping their stomachs open and thus he was killing Brahmans, like a calf killing its own mother at its time of birth by ripping the womb of its own mother.
"On one occasion after some time, that Vaataapi avariciously obtained that great saint and the one who is endowed with effulgence, namely Agastya, as an eatable; but actually that rakshash became an eatable for the sage. On observing the rakshash Vaataapi who was trying to assume his original form of a ram in order to come out of his stomach, that godly saint Agastya spoke this to Vaataapi with a scornful smile 'Oh, Vaataapi, you have irreverently eradicated the best Brahmans in this world owing to your might, therefore I have assimilated you' and digested him in his stomach.
"Lakshmana, if the deer is in fact Maareecha then he like Vaataapi should not be alive any longer. Lakshmana, you stay here in all preparedness and guard Maithili steadfastly. I wish to catch this deer, Soumitri. If I could not catch it then I will kill it. I am going forthwith to fetch that deer. See how Vaidehi is completely bewitched by that deer. On second thoughts I am inclined to agree with you that the deer must be a mysterious being. If that is proved, then I will not allow it to survive any longer. Apply yourself vigilantly, Oh, Lakshmana, while staying in the hermitage guarding Seetha. I will return as quickly as possible.
"Oh, Lakshmana, take a good care of Maithili along with the forthright, formidable and fatherly bird Jatayu, and be watchful and suspicious from everywhere and every moment." Then Rama started to get the deer.
==========================================================
No comments:
Post a Comment