Ramayana. The Golden Deer.
Maricha, obedient to Ravana, assumed the form of a golden deer and ranged about the wood near Rama's hut: its horns were like twin jewels, its face was piebald, its ears like two blue lltus-flowers, its sleek sides soft as the petals of a flower, its hoofs as black as jet, its haunches slender, its lifted tail of every colour of the rainbow -- a deer-form such as this he took! His back was starred with gold and silver, and he ranged about the forest lawns seeking to be seen by Sita. And when she saw him she was astonished and delighted, and called to Rama and Lakshman, and begged Rama to catch or kill the deer for her, and she urged him to the chase. Rama, too, was fascinated by the splendid deer. He would not heed Lakshman's warning that it must be a rakshasa disguised. "All the more, then, must I slay it," said Rama, "but do thou watch over Sita, staying here with the good Jatayu. I shall be back again in a very little while, bringing the deer-skin with me."
Now vanishing, now coming near, the magic deer led Rama far away, until he was wearied out and sank upon the ground under a shady tree; then it appeared again, surrounded by other deer, and bounded away. But Rama drew his bow and loosed an arrow that pierced its breast, so that it sprang high into the air and fell moaning on the earth. Then Maricha, at the point of death, assumed his own shape, and remembering Ravana's command, be bethought him how to draw Lakshman also away from Sita, and he called aloud with Rama's voice, "Ah, Sita! Ah, Lakshman." At the sound of that awful cry Rama was struck with nameless fear, and hurried back to Panchavati, leaving Maricha dead.
Now Sita heard that cry, and urged Lakshman to go to Rama's help, upbraiding him with bitter words; for he knew Rama to be unconqueraable, and himself was pledged to guard Sita from all danger. But she called him a monster of wickedness, and said that he cared nothing for Rama, but desired herself; and he might not endure those words, and though many an ill omen warned him, she forced him thus to go in search of Rama. So he bowed to her and went away, but often turning back to glance at Sita, fearing for her safety.
Maricha, obedient to Ravana, assumed the form of a golden deer and ranged about the wood near Rama's hut: its horns were like twin jewels, its face was piebald, its ears like two blue lltus-flowers, its sleek sides soft as the petals of a flower, its hoofs as black as jet, its haunches slender, its lifted tail of every colour of the rainbow -- a deer-form such as this he took! His back was starred with gold and silver, and he ranged about the forest lawns seeking to be seen by Sita. And when she saw him she was astonished and delighted, and called to Rama and Lakshman, and begged Rama to catch or kill the deer for her, and she urged him to the chase. Rama, too, was fascinated by the splendid deer. He would not heed Lakshman's warning that it must be a rakshasa disguised. "All the more, then, must I slay it," said Rama, "but do thou watch over Sita, staying here with the good Jatayu. I shall be back again in a very little while, bringing the deer-skin with me."
Now vanishing, now coming near, the magic deer led Rama far away, until he was wearied out and sank upon the ground under a shady tree; then it appeared again, surrounded by other deer, and bounded away. But Rama drew his bow and loosed an arrow that pierced its breast, so that it sprang high into the air and fell moaning on the earth. Then Maricha, at the point of death, assumed his own shape, and remembering Ravana's command, be bethought him how to draw Lakshman also away from Sita, and he called aloud with Rama's voice, "Ah, Sita! Ah, Lakshman." At the sound of that awful cry Rama was struck with nameless fear, and hurried back to Panchavati, leaving Maricha dead.
Now Sita heard that cry, and urged Lakshman to go to Rama's help, upbraiding him with bitter words; for he knew Rama to be unconqueraable, and himself was pledged to guard Sita from all danger. But she called him a monster of wickedness, and said that he cared nothing for Rama, but desired herself; and he might not endure those words, and though many an ill omen warned him, she forced him thus to go in search of Rama. So he bowed to her and went away, but often turning back to glance at Sita, fearing for her safety.
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Maricha, obedient to Ravana, assumed the form of a golden deer and ranged about the wood near Rama's hut: its horns were like twin jewels, its face was piebald, its ears like two blue lltus-flowers, its sleek sides soft as the petals of a flower, its hoofs as black as jet, its haunches slender, its lifted tail of every colour of the rainbow -- a deer-form such as this he took! His back was starred with gold and silver, and he ranged about the forest lawns seeking to be seen by Sita. And when she saw him she was astonished and delighted, and called to Rama and Lakshman, and begged Rama to catch or kill the deer for her, and she urged him to the chase. Rama, too, was fascinated by the splendid deer. He would not heed Lakshman's warning that it must be a rakshasa disguised. "All the more, then, must I slay it," said Rama, "but do thou watch over Sita, staying here with the good Jatayu. I shall be back again in a very little while, bringing the deer-skin with me."
Now vanishing, now coming near, the magic deer led Rama far away, until he was wearied out and sank upon the ground under a shady tree; then it appeared again, surrounded by other deer, and bounded away. But Rama drew his bow and loosed an arrow that pierced its breast, so that it sprang high into the air and fell moaning on the earth. Then Maricha, at the point of death, assumed his own shape, and remembering Ravana's command, be bethought him how to draw Lakshman also away from Sita, and he called aloud with Rama's voice, "Ah, Sita! Ah, Lakshman." At the sound of that awful cry Rama was struck with nameless fear, and hurried back to Panchavati, leaving Maricha dead.
Now Sita heard that cry, and urged Lakshman to go to Rama's help, upbraiding him with bitter words; for he knew Rama to be unconqueraable, and himself was pledged to guard Sita from all danger. But she called him a monster of wickedness, and said that he cared nothing for Rama, but desired herself; and he might not endure those words, and though many an ill omen warned him, she forced him thus to go in search of Rama. So he bowed to her and went away, but often turning back to glance at Sita, fearing for her safety.
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