66697602-The-Ramayana-R-K-Narayan

At this point Lakshmana interceded. “I would not go near
it. It may be just an illusion presented before us. It’s not safe.
Who has ever heard of an animal made of gold and gems?
It’s a trick, if ever there was one.”
Rama replied, “Brahma’s creations are vast and varied.
No one can say that he knows all the creatures of this earth.
How can you assert that there can be no such creature of
splendour?”
Sita interposed impatiently, “While you are debating, the
animal will be gone. Please come out and see it for
yourself.”
Rama came out of the cottage, saw it, and said, “It’s a
wonderful creature. Stay here. I will get it for you.”
Sita said, “I’ll keep it with me as my pet and take it back to
Ayodhya when our exile ends.”
Lakshmana once again tried to prevent this pursuit. But
Rama brushed aside his argument. “It’s harmless to pursue
it. If it is some infernal creature in this form, it will reveal itself
when it is shot at. If it is not, we will take it intact and Sita will
have a plaything. Either way we cannot ignore it.”
“We can’t go after it when we do not know who has set it
before us. If it’s harmless, it would be wrong to hunt it. In any
case, it is best to keep away from it.” When he found Rama
obstinate, Lakshmana said, “Please stay here. I will go after
it and try to find out the truth of it.”