Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 31, Shloka 10

मायाशिरोप्रदर्शनम्

The Display of the Illusory Head of Rāma

Devanagari script

अशोकवनिकायांतुसीतादर्शनलालसः ।वैरृतानामधिपतिस्संविवेशमहाबलः ।।।।

Transliteration

aśoka-vanikāyāṃ tu sītā-darśana-lālasaḥ |

nairṛtānām adhipatiḥ saṃviveśa mahābalaḥ ||6.31.10||

Translation

وإذ كان متلهّفًا لرؤية سيتا، دخل سيدُ الرّاكشاسا العظيمُ القوة إلى بستان أشوكا.

Word by Word

• अशोकवनिकायाम्: in the Ashoka grove
• अशोकवनिकायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशोकवनिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अशोकानां वनिका); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• तु: indeed/then
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Particle; contrast/emphasis)

• सीतादर्शनलालसः: eager to see Sita
• सीतादर्शनलालसः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक) + लालस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सीतायाः दर्शनस्य लालसः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of अधिपतिः/महाबलः)

• नैरृतानाम्: of the Rakshasas
• नैरृतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैरृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• अधिपतिः: lord
• अधिपतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• संविवेश: entered
• संविवेश: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विश् (धातु) + सम्- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महाबलः: mighty
• महाबलः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of अधिपतिः)

Context

Eager to have a look at Sita, the mighty king of Rakshasas entered Asoka grove.

Characters & Entities

• Aśoka-vana (Aśoka grove)
• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa (nairṛtānām adhipatiḥ)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

By contrast, it underscores adharma: desire backed by coercive power leads to violation of another’s autonomy, a central ethical failure in Rāvaṇa’s conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa goes into the Aśoka grove to confront the captive Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Negatively framed: unchecked desire and pride; the verse sets up the moral tension between power and righteousness.