Shloka 24

मायाशिरोप्रदर्शनम्

The Display of the Illusory Head of Rāma

Devanagari script

अथसुप्तस्यरामस्यप्रहस्तेनप्रमाथिना ।असक्तंकृतहस्तेनशिरश्छिन्नंमहासिना ।।।।

Transliteration

atha suptasya rāmasya prahastena pramāthinā | asaktaṃ kṛta-hastena śiraś chinnaṃ mahāsinā ||

Translation

Dann trennte Prahasta, geschickt und furchteinflößend, mit einem großen Schwert ohne Zögern das Haupt des schlafenden Rama ab.

Word by Word

• atha: then/thereafter
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/अनन्तर-बोधक अव्यय (temporal particle: then/thereafter)

• suptasya: of (him) sleeping
• suptasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: supta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √svap धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle: ‘slept/sleeping’), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (singular)

• rāmasya: of Rama
• rāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (singular)

• prahastena: by Prahasta
• prahastena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prahasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• pramāthinā: (who was) a crusher/striker
• pramāthinā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pramāthin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण (qualifier) of ‘prahastena’

• asaktam: without attachment/hesitation
• asaktam: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asakta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √sañj/√saj धातु)
• Form: नञ्-समास/उपसर्ग ‘a-’ (negation) + सक्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbially: ‘without attachment/without clinging’)

• kṛtahastena: by the skilled-handed (one)
• kṛtahastena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta-hasta (कृदन्त+प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कृतः हस्तः यस्य सः (skilled-handed); पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण of ‘prahastena’

• śiraḥ: head
• śiraḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• chinnam: severed
• chinnam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: chinna (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √chid धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle: cut/severed), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण of ‘śiraḥ’

• mahāsinā: with a great sword
• mahāsinā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-asi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: महत् असिः (great sword); पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

Context

Again, and again lifting spears, iron bars, javelins, huge staffs, sparkling maces, shining iron mallets and clubs, lances and strong Musalas, the Rakshasas hurled at Vanaras.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Prahasta
• Rāma

FAQs

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

The dharmic lesson is the danger of falsehood used as a weapon: Rāvaṇa’s gruesome claim is meant to shatter Sītā’s satya-based hope and fidelity. The epic upholds truth and steadfastness against such manufactured despair.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa culminates his intimidation by asserting that Prahasta beheaded a sleeping Rāma—part of a coercive, likely false report intended to break Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s unwavering commitment to dharma (faithfulness, truth, and endurance) is the virtue under attack and therefore most emphasized.