Canto 3 -
Araṇya-kāṇḍa
Chapter 42: Mārīca Becomes an Enchanting Deer
Text 3.42.1
एवमुक्त्वा तु वचनं मारीचो रावणं ततः।
गच्छावेत्यब्रवीद्दीनो भयाद्रात्रिंचरप्रभोः॥
evam uktvā tu vacanaṁ mārīco rāvaṇaṁ tataḥ
gacchāvety abravīd dīno bhayād rātriṁcara-prabhoḥ
evam = these; uktvā tu = after speaking; vacanam = words; mārīcaḥ = Mārīca; rāvaṇam = Rāvaṇa; tataḥ = then; gacchāva iti = let’s go; abravīt = he told; dīnaḥ = was afflicted; bhayāt = by fear; rātriṁcara-prabhoḥ = of the king of the night-rangers.
Mārīca was afflicted by fear of the king of the night-rangers. After speaking these words, he then told Rāvaṇa: Let’s go!
With my head, I offer my obeisances unto Jānakī’s beloved husband who is her very life. Separation from Him for a moment or even half a moment is distressing [to her].
Mārīca was afflicted by fear of the king of the night-rangers—he was frightened that Rāvaṇa might kill him right away [if he refused his order].
The next verse elaborates on Mārīca’s sorry plight.