Chapter XLIII: Section XLIV

Having thus directed his brother, the highly energetic son of Raghu equipped himself with his gold-hilted scimitar And girting himself with his bow bent at three places, which served him as an ornament,--as well as a couple of quivers that one of fierce energy sallied out. Seeing that foremost of monarchs approach, that best of beasts from fear disappeared; and then again showed himself. Thereat girt with the bow and sword, (Rama) rushed where the deer was; and beheld him illumining all before him with his beauty,--and bow in hand (Rama beheld) him in that vast forest, darting away after gazing at him,--and sometimes seeming to have got beyond arrow range, and at others tempting Rama (by his vicinity). And sometimes influenced by fear and bewildered, (the deer) seemed to course the welkin; and in the forest now he became visible and now vanished from sight. And like the autumual lunar disc enveloped by indented clouds, he momentarily showed himself, and anon discovered himself at a distance. And Maricha wearing the shape of a deer, showing himself and disappearing from sight, drew Raghava a long way from the hermitage. Thereat Rama, eagerly anxious to secure the deer, being foiled by the deer, and in consequence growing enraged, wearied out, rested under a shadow, on a sward. And that ranger of the night, wearing the form of a deer, maddening Rama, discovered himself (again) at a distance surrounded by (other) deer. And Rama desirous of taking (the beast), seeing him again, set off at speed. At the very moment the deer disappeared from fear; and again showed himself at a distance behind a tree. And seeing him, the exceedingly energetic and strong Raghava, determined to slay him, growing wroth, taking out a flaming shaft, resembling the rays of the sun, powerfully drew his bow, and firmly setting the shaft, and aiming it at the deer, let go the blazing and burning weapon forged by Brahma, resembling a flaming serpent. And that best of arrows, like unto a thunderbolt, deeply pierced the breast of Maricha, wearing the shape of a deer. Thereat bounding up high as a palmyra palm, that one whose saws had almost run out, uttered terrible sounds, lying on the earth. And while on the point of death, Maricha renounced his counterfeit shape. And remembering the words of Ravana, the Rakshasa reflected, "By what means can Sita send away Lakshmana, and Ravana carry off Sita staying in solitude?" And pierced to the marrow by that peerless shaft, Maricha, renouncing his deer form, resumed his Rakshasa lineaments; and giving up his life attaining a huge person, considering the time had come (for availing himself of the advice tendered by Ravana), began to cry with the voice of Raghava, "Ah Sita! Ah Lakshmana!" And seeing that grim-visaged Rakshasa lying low on the ground, with his person bathed in blood, and rolling hither and thither, Rim a proceeded towards the asylum, thinking of Sita. and revolving within himself Lakshmana's words. While returning he thought aside "Lakshmana said before that this was Maricha's illusion!" His words have been verified now. Truly have I killed Maricha. Maricha has given up his ghost exclaiming aloud Ah! Sita, Ah! Lakshmana. I do not know what shall Sita do hearing the cry? And what shall the mighty-armed Lakshmana do?" While pondering thus the hairs of the virtuous-souled Rama stood on their end. Killing that Rakshasa assuming the shape of a deer and hearing his terrible cry Rama was overwhelmed with fear arising out of sorrow. Thereupon killing a deer and taking its flesh he hastened towards Janasthana.