Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 31, Shloka 38

मायाशिरोप्रदर्शनम्

The Display of the Illusory Head of Rāma

Devanagari script

ततःपरमदुर्धर्षोरावणोराक्षसेश्वरः ।सीतायामुपशन्त्यांराक्षसीमिदमब्रवीत् ।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ paramadurdharṣo rāvaṇo rākṣaseśvaraḥ |

sītāyām upaśantyāṃ rākṣasīm idam abravīt ||

Translation

তাৰ পাছত অতি দুৰ্ধর্ষ ৰাক্ষসেশ্বৰ ৰাৱণে, সীতা নীৰৱে শুনি থাকোঁতে, এগৰাকী ৰাক্ষসীক এই কথা ক’লে।

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/क्रम-वाचक (adverb: then/thereafter)

• परमदुर्धर्षः: most unassailable
• परमदुर्धर्षः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम-दुर्धर्ष (प्रातिपदिक; परम + दुर्धर्ष)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (परमः दुर्धर्षः = extremely unassailable) विशेषण (qualifying rāvaṇaḥ)

• रावणः: Ravana
• रावणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• राक्षसेश्वरः: lord of the rakshasas
• राक्षसेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक; राक्षस + ईश्वर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ईश्वरः राक्षसानाम् = lord of rakshasas)

• सीतायाम्: while Sita (was...)
• सीतायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative absolute)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• उपशन्त्यां: being calmed/quieted
• उपशन्त्यां: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative absolute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-शम् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (with sītāyām)

• राक्षसीम्: to the she-demon (rakshasi)
• राक्षसीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• इदम्: this (speech)
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; वाक्य-कर्म (object: these words)

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

Then Ravana, the highly unassailable king of Rakshasas spoke these words to the hearing of Sita.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā
• rākṣasī

FAQs

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

Power without dharma turns to manipulation; the verse sets up Rāvaṇa’s use of speech as a weapon against truth and righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa prepares instructions to intensify Sītā’s distress through his attendants.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s attentive composure under intimidation, contrasted with Rāvaṇa’s misuse of authority.