Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 81, Shloka 4

इन्द्रजितो मायासीतावधः

Indrajit’s Illusory Sita Episode and Hanuman’s Rebuke

Devanagari script

इन्द्रजित्तुततोदृष्टवाभ्रातरौरामलक्ष्मणौ ।रणायाभ्युद्यतौवीरौमायांप्रादुष्करोत्तदा ।।।।

Transliteration

indrajit tu tato dṛṣṭvā bhrātarau rāmalakṣmaṇau |

raṇāyābhyudyatau vīrau māyāṃ prāduṣkarot tadā ||

Translation

حينئذٍ إنْدْرَجِيت، لمّا رأى الأخوين البطلين راما ولاكشمانا قد تهيّآ للقتال، أظهر في ذلك الوقت قوّةَ المايا، سحرَ الوهم.

Word by Word

• indrajit: Indrajit
• indrajit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indrajit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, Particle (contrast/continuation)

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya, Adverb of sequence

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), 'having seen'

• bhrātarau: the two brothers
• bhrātarau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd) Dual (द्विवचन)

• rāmalakṣmaṇau: Rama and Lakshmana
• rāmalakṣmaṇau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक) + lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva-samāsa (द्वन्द्व) itaretara; Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Dual; in apposition to 'bhrātarau'

• raṇāya: for battle
• raṇāya: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular; purpose dative

• abhyudyatau: prepared/raised (for combat)
• abhyudyatau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi + ud + yam (धातु)
• Form: Past participle (क्त) used adjectivally in sense 'raised/ready'; Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Dual; qualifying 'bhrātarau'

• vīrau: the two heroes
• vīrau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Dual; apposition to 'bhrātarau'

• māyām: illusion/magic
• māyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• prāduṣkarot: manifested/displayed
• prāduṣkarot: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prādur + kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Parasmaipada, Luṅ (Aorist), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Singular; causative-like idiom 'made manifest'

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, Adverb of time

Context

Indrajith, also witnessing the two brothers Rama and Lakshmana prepared for war, exhibited his trickery.

Characters & Entities

• Indrajit
• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Maya

FAQs

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

Dharma is contrasted with adharma: when direct battle cannot prevail, Indrajit turns to māyā (deception). The verse frames illusion as a morally suspect tactic against righteous warriors.

What is the narrative situation?

Indrajit observes Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa ready for combat and initiates an illusory stratagem to destabilize the opposing side.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa’s vīratva (heroic readiness) is highlighted; Indrajit’s reliance on deception underscores the opponents’ steadfastness versus trickery.