Shloka 14

मायाशिरोप्रदर्शनम्

The Display of the Illusory Head of Rāma

Devanagari script

सान्त्व्यमानामयाभद्रेयमुपाश्रित्यवल्गसे ।खरहन्तासतेभर्ताराघवस्समरेहतः ।।।।

Transliteration

sāntvyamānā mayā bhadre yam upāśritya valgase |

khara-hantā sa te bhartā rāghavaḥ samare hataḥ ||6.31.14||

Translation

«O holde Frau, obgleich ich dich zu trösten suche, klammerst du dich doch an den, dessen du dich rühmst: deinen Gemahl Rāghava, den Bezwinger Kharas; er ist im Kampf gefallen.»

Word by Word

• sāntvyamānām: (you) being entreated/soothed
• sāntvyamānām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sāntv (धातु) + ya (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana; present passive participle (शानच्): ‘being soothed/entreated’

• ayā: by me
• ayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/3rd), Ekavacana; pronoun ‘by me/this (fem.)’ here = ‘by me’ (speaker)

• bhadre: O auspicious lady
• bhadre: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhadra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Sambodhana (Vocative), Ekavacana

• yam: whom
• yam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana; relative pronoun

• upāśritya: having resorted to
• upāśritya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-ā-śri (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्): ‘having resorted to/taken refuge in’

• valgase: you boast/exult
• valgase: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: valg (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd person), Ekavacana; ātmanepada

• kharahantā: the slayer of Khara
• kharahantā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khara-hantṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana; upapada-tatpuruṣa: kharam hanti iti ‘slayer of Khara’

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive/6th), Ekavacana; enclitic

• bhartā: husband
• bhartā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana

• rāghavaḥ: Rāghava (Rāma)
• rāghavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana

• samare: in battle
• samare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samara (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī (Locative/7th), Ekavacana

• hataḥ: killed
• hataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana; past passive participle (क्त): ‘killed’

Context

While she was guarded by dreadful Rakshasa women surrounding her closely, Ravana went near her happily and saw her. He addressed Sita praising her.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā
• Rāghava (Rāma)
• Khara
• Battle (samara)

FAQs

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

The verse spotlights the violation of satya: Rāvaṇa attempts to break Sītā through falsehood and fear, showing how adharma often weaponizes untruth.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa tries to demoralize Sītā by claiming that Rāma has been killed in war.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s implied steadfast faith; Rāvaṇa’s opposite trait—manipulation through deceit.