Maarich and the Golden Deer

Before the whole court, Shurpanakha scolded Ravan: ‘You call yourself a king, yet you sleep while two humans wipe out your army!’ Then she described Sita's beauty in such a way that a desire to possess Sita arose in Ravan's heart. He decided to carry her away.

Ravan rode his flying chariot across the sea to Maarich. This was the same Maarich whom Ram had hurled a hundred yojanas away years ago at Vishwamitra's yagya. Now he lived as an ascetic. Ravan said, ‘Become a golden deer and lure Ram far away.’

Maarich trembled. He warned Ravan, ‘Do not make an enemy of Ram. I have felt his arrow. I see Ram behind every tree. This will destroy you and all of Lanka.’ But Ravan threatened, ‘Refuse, and I will kill you now.’ Maarich thought: I must die either way, so better to die at Ram's hands.

Maarich took the form of a wondrous golden deer: a body gleaming like gold, silver spots and antlers like jewels. It grazed near the hut at Panchavati. Sita saw it, was enchanted, and said to Ram, ‘Please bring it for me.’ Lakshman warned that it might be a demon's maya.

Ram decided to fulfil Sita's wish. He told Lakshman, ‘Guard Sita, and do not leave her.’ Then he took his bow and followed the deer. It appeared and disappeared, and drew Ram far away. At last Ram shot an arrow. As he died, Maarich cried out in Ram's voice: ‘Ha Sita! Ha Lakshman!’