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207
 
© Lord, surely this deer-form will be
a source of wonderment to Bharata, to
you, to my mothers-in-law, and to myself.
 
ARANYAKANDA
 
लोभितस्तेन रूपेण सीतया च प्रचोदितः ।
उवाच राघवो हृष्टो भ्रातरं लक्ष्मणं वचः ॥
 
Allured by its form and being
instigated by Sita, the delighted Raghava
said these words to his brother Lakshmana :
 
पश्य लक्ष्मण वैदेह्याः स्पृहां मृगगतामिमाम् ।
कस्य नामाभिरूपोऽसौ न मनो लोभयेन्मृगः ॥
 
"O Lakshmana, behold the desire of
Sita for this deer. Whose heart would
not this beautiful deer allure?
 
इह त्वं भव सन्नद्धो यन्त्रितो रक्ष मैथिलीम् ।
यावद्गच्छामि सौमित्रे मृगमानयितुं द्रुतम् ॥
 
Stay here armed and alert, and protect
Maithili, while I go,
O Lakshmana, to
bring the deer quickly."
 
तथा तु तं समादिश्य भ्रातरं रघुनन्दनः ।
बद्धासिर्धनुरादाय प्रदुगाव यतो मृगः ॥