With difficulty Mārīca accepted Rāvaṇa’s order, got onto his chariot with him and came near Rāma’s āśrama at Daṇḍakāraṇya. On the order of Rāvaṇa, he then got down from the chariot and assumed the form of a wonderful deer by dint of his magical powers. With attractive features, Mārīca in the form of a deer then sported by the gateway to Śrī Rāma’s āśrama. Having come out of the āśrama, Sītā-devī, who was plucking flowers, noticed this magical deer sporting most wonderfully.