Sushmajee
Vaalmeeki Raamaayan | 3-Aranya Kaand
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Page 16: Sarg 43-44 |
Seetaa called Raam and Lakshman to show them such a strange Mrig (deer) - golden and silvery. Both brothers came there where Seetaa was plucking flowers. Both saw the Maaya Mrig but seeing him Lakshman said immediately - "This is Maareech Raakshas who has come here in this form. He has killed many kings coming for hunting in this form, because he knows all kinds of Maayaa. Hey Raam, There is no doubt about it that there is no Mrig as beautiful as him in this world but I have never seen such a Mrig before." But Seetaa was so much attracted to that Mrig, that She said to Raam - "This Mrig looks so beautiful to me. Kindly catch him for me. I will play with him. Although thousands of deer, like Chamaraa, Kinnar, Srimar etc, come here, but I have never seen such a beautiful Mrig before. If you can catch him alive it will astonish all. When our exile period will be over, we will take him home. He will beautify our palace chambers. He will play with us there too. My mother-in-law will also be happy to have him there. If you cannot catch him alive, you may bring its skin. I will spread it on the Darbh grass seat and sit on it near you. Whatever I am saying to you, although it is improper to say for women, but he has attracted me so much that is why I am saying this to you." Raam also had a desire to catch him, because his Maayaa has attracted Raam also. [see Golden Mrig here]. He said to Lakshman - "See, How happy Seetaa is to see this Mrig? Such Mrig is not seen even in Chitrarath Van (Kuber's Van) or Nandan Van (Indra's Van). How beautiful is his golden hair. His mouth is like of sapphire mug, his feet look like made of golden pearls. Who in the world will not get attracted to him? Hey Lakshman, Raajaa hunts on Mrig for entertainment, for its flesh, for their bow sport also. And industrious people search for jewels and minerals in forest. So this game is all right for us. Everything of this forest will be enhancing our treasury, like Shukra thought of anything and it became reality and got into his treasure (as Pauraanik legend says)." He thought Himself, "If I will bring his skin then Seetaa will sit on it beside me. Even Kadalee, Priyakee or any other deer's skin is not as soft as his. There are only two divine deer in the world, one in the sky (Orion, or Mrigshiraa star) and two this on Prithvi. [Lakshman may say that both Mrig are imposible to get]. Its skin is very soft. And if, according to Lakshman, this is a Maayaa Mrig, then also it is my duty to kill him, because Maareech has killed Many Rishi. He has killed many kings who came to prey here. That is why [in either way] he is my prey." He said to Lakshman again - "Hey Lakshman, Before also there was a Vaataapee Raakshas at this place who used to kill Rishi by entering their stomach. Once he came to Agastya Muni, then Agasya Muni actually ate him. When he wanted to take his former form, Muni said smiling - "You have cheated many Rishi and insulted them but today, you are digested in my stomach." So Hey Lakshman, Whoever Raakshas will behave with me like Vaataapee, he will bear the same consequences. As Vaataapee was killed by Agastya Muni, he will be killed by me. Therefore you take care of Seetaa with your weapons, [and I go to catch this Mrig] because our mission is founded in Her that is why I am going to catch this Mrig. And if this Mrig was not caught, then I will certainly kill him. Because of his strange skin he will not be survive now. Seetaa is very anxious for his skin. As soon as I kill him I come back soon, you take care of Seetaa with Jataayu for every split of second." Sarg 44-Raam Goes to Catch Maayaa Mrig Thus instructing Lakshman , picked His gold handled sword and three-way arched bow (Shaarang bow) followed the Maaya Mrig. Maareech hid because of fear of Raam, but appeared again. Because of his shining beauty, the land before him was lighted. That Mrig sometimes came near, sometimes went far sometimes to tantalise Raam, sometimes to lure Raam. Thus he took Raam very far away from His Aashram. Raam was spellbound and fascinated by his beauty but not been able to catch him felt tired and got angry running behind him, so He sat at one place under a shade of a tree to take some rest. Now that Mrig also stopped but appeared again grazing near Him along with other animals. As Raam got up to catch him, he disappeared in the forest. Seeing this Raam decided to kill him. So Raam shot an arrow at him. It hit him in his chest. As the arrow hit him, the Mrig jumped up to the height of a palm tree and fell down. At the time of his dying he left his Mrig's body. He remembered Raavan's words so he cried - "Haa Seetey, Haa Lakshman" in Raam's voice, so that Seetaa can send Lakshman to help Raam and Raavan can abduct Seetaa from that isolated place. [see Maareech Vadh here]. [When Raam came after the Mrig, He didn't pay any attention to Lakshman's words that "he was Maareech" and He thought only about Seetaa but] as he cried with "Haa Seetey, Haa Lakshman" in Raam's voice He got worried thinking that "This is the trick of Maareech and Lakshman had known it before. What would happen to Seetaa and Lakshman hearing this cry?" so He immediately killed another deer and taking its flesh returned to His Aashram as fast as He could.
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Here it is clear as why Raavan chose Maareech for this work. Because he was capable to do such things. (2) Lakshman has fulfilled His duty by telling Raam the deer's secret. Now it is up to Raam to analyze it.
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Created by Sushma Gupta on 5/27/03
Contact: sushmajee@yahoo.com
Updated on
06/09/11