Shloka 6.31.46

मायाशिरोप्रदर्शनम् (The Display of the Illusory Head of Rāma)

Devanagari script

सविद्युज्जिह्वेनसहैवतच्छिरोधनुश्चभूमौविनिकीर्यरावणः ।विदेहराजस्यसुतांयशस्विनींततोऽब्रवीत्तांभवमेवशानुगा ।।।।

Transliteration

śiro māyāmayaṃ gṛhya rāghavasya niśācaraḥ |

tvaṃ māṃ samutiṣṭhasva mahac ca saśaraṃ dhanuḥ ||

Translation

O night-roaming rākṣasa, take the illusory head of Rāghava and stand before me—bearing also the great bow with its arrow.

Context

Then Ravana placing that head brought by Vidyujihvam and the famous bow on the ground said to the daughter of the king of Videha, "Now you may submit to my will."।। इत्यार्षेवाल्मीकीयेश्रीमद्रामायणेआदिकाव्येयुद्धकाण्डेएकत्रिंशस्सर्गः ।।This is the end of the thirty first sarga of Yuddha Kanda of the first epic the holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Vidyujjihva
• Rāma (Rāghava)
• bow (kārmuka/dhanuḥ)
• arrow

FAQs

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

The verse demonstrates how adharma weaponizes symbols (a ‘head’, a ‘bow’) to create despair. Dharma values truth; this is a planned violation of satya.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa gives specific instructions for a staged ‘proof’ meant to convince Sītā that Rāma has been killed.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s heroic identity is indirectly emphasized through his famed weapons; Sītā’s fidelity is targeted as the plot’s objective.