Shloka 6

मायाशिरोप्रदर्शनम्

The Display of the Illusory Head of Rāma

Devanagari script

ततोराक्षसमाहूयविद्युज्जिह्वंमहाबलम् ।मायाविदंमहामायःप्राविशद्यत्रमैथिली ।।।।

Transliteration

tato rākṣasam āhūya vidyujjihvaṃ mahābalam |

māyāvidaṃ mahāmāyaḥ prāviśad yatra maithilī ||

Translation

Dann rief der große Illusionist Ravana den mächtigen Rakshasa Vidyujjihva, der in den magischen Künsten bewandert war, und begab sich dorthin, wo Maithili war.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Adverb; ‘then’)

• राक्षसम्: a Rakshasa
• राक्षसम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of आहूय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आहूय: having summoned
• आहूय: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ह्वे (धातु) + आ- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive; āhūya)

• विद्युज्जिह्वम्: Vidyujihva
• विद्युज्जिह्वम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of implied ‘summoned’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्युत् (प्रातिपदिक) + जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (विद्युत्-जिह्वा यस्य सः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• महाबलम्: mighty-strong
• महाबलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महत् बलम्); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of विद्युज्जिह्वम्)

• मायाविदम्: knower of magic
• मायाविदम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मायां वेत्ति इति/मायायाः विद्); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of विद्युज्जिह्वम्)

• महामायः: the great magician
• महामायः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (महामाया यस्य सः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम/विशेषण (of the subject, i.e., Rāvaṇa)

• प्राविशत्: entered
• प्राविशत्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विश् (धातु) + प्र- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण/Place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Relative adverb; स्थानवाचक)

• मैथिली: Maithili (Sita)
• मैथिली: Karta (कर्ता/Subject of implied ‘was’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैथिली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (Sītā)

Context

Thus addressed Ravana casting down the bright great bow that is famous in the three worlds.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Vidyujjihva
• Sītā (Maithilī)

FAQs

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

The verse sets up a contrast: dharma and satya are threatened by māyā (deception). It shows how power can recruit skill for unethical ends.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa begins a planned deception against Sītā by calling a magician-helper and going toward Sītā’s location.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

No virtue is celebrated; rather, the episode foreshadows adharma—using cunning and illusion to break another’s resolve.