The Golden Deer

Ravana's chariot came down at a lonely hermitage across the sea. Maricha lived there, the same Maricha whom one arrow of the boy Ram had flung a hundred yojanas. He now wore matted hair and deerskin and lived as an ascetic.

Ravana said, "Maricha, Ram has insulted my sister and destroyed my army. I will carry off his wife. Become a golden deer and roam before his hut. Sita will ask for it, Ram and Lakshmana will go after it, and I will take Sita from the empty hut."

At the name of Ram, Maricha's mouth went dry. He folded his hands and said:

Sulabhah purusha rajan satatam priyavadinah,
apriyasya cha pathyasya vakta shrota cha durlabhah.

"King, men who always say pleasant things are easy to find. One who will say what is unpleasant but good for you, and one who will listen to it, are both rare. You do not know Ram. I do. He was a boy of twelve then, and one arrow of his dropped me in the sea. Since that day I see Ram in bark cloth behind every tree. I tremble even at words that begin with the sound 'ra'. Ram is dharma in bodily form. To touch Sita is to touch a burning fire. Lanka will burn. Go back."

Ravana's eyes reddened. "I did not ask for your advice; I gave an order. Refuse and you die now." Maricha thought: death lies either way. Better to die by Ram's arrow than by Ravana's hand. He climbed into the chariot.

The deer

Sita was gathering flowers outside the hut. She saw a deer such as no one had ever seen: a body of gold flecked with silver, antlers like jewels, coming near and then bounding away. She called, "My lord, Lakshmana, come quickly! See how beautiful it is. Catch it for me. When the exile is over we will take it to Ayodhya. And if it cannot be taken alive, I will sit with you on its skin."

Lakshmana said at once, "Brother, no such deer exists in the world. This is Maricha's sorcery." But Ram saw the longing in Sita's eyes. "If it is Maricha, it is my duty to kill him in any case. Lakshmana, stay here with your bow and guard Sita, with Jatayu. Do not be careless for an instant."

The cry

The deer drew Ram on, hiding in thickets, appearing on a far rise. When the hut was far behind, Ram understood that Lakshmana had been right. He loosed an arrow. It struck the heart. The deer's form fell away, and Maricha leapt as high as a palm tree and crashed down. As he died he called out in Ram's voice: "O Sita! O Lakshmana!"

Ram's heart shook. He turned and hurried back.

Sita's harsh words

That cry reached the hut. Sita was terrified. "Lakshmana, go! Your brother is in danger." Lakshmana did not move. "Lady, no one in the three worlds can defeat my brother. This is a rakshasa's trick. He left your safety in my charge."

In fear a person says what will sting for a lifetime afterwards. Sita said, "You are your brother's enemy, to stand here when he is in danger. Is there some evil in your heart? Without Ram I will throw myself into fire."

It was as if hot oil had been poured into Lakshmana's ears. He folded his hands. "You are like a deity to me; I will not answer. The gods of the forest are witness that I spoke rightly. May they protect you. I see evil omens." He went, looking back again and again.

In popular tellings Lakshmana draws a line around the hut as he leaves, the Lakshman Rekha. The episode is not in Valmiki's Ramayana, but its meaning stands: some boundaries exist for our protection.

The hut was now alone.