Shloka 6.31.8

मायाशिरोप्रदर्शनम् (The Display of the Illusory Head of Rāma)

Devanagari script

शिरोमायामयंगृह्यराघवस्यनिशाचर: ।त्वंमांसमुतिष्ठस्वमहच्चसशरंधनुः ।।।।

Transliteration

idaṃ tu tava rāmasya kārmukaṃ jyāsamāyutam |

iha prahastena ānītaṃ hatvā taṃ niśi mānuṣam ||

Translation

“This is your Rāma’s bow, strung with its bowstring. Prahasta has brought it here, having slain that man in the night.”

Context

"O Night ranger! You make an illusory head of Raghava and come and stand at me holding an arrow with great bow."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā
• Rāma
• Prahasta
• bow (kārmuka)
• bowstring (jyā)

FAQs

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

The verse centers on the sin of deliberate untruth (asatya) used as psychological coercion. Dharma upholds satya; here satya is strategically violated to break Sītā’s will.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa claims (falsely, within the māyā-plot) that Prahasta killed Rāma and brought Rāma’s bow as proof.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s loyalty is again highlighted: Rāvaṇa attempts to sever her hope by asserting Rāma’s death.