Shloka 33

मायाशिरोप्रदर्शनम्

The Display of the Illusory Head of Rāma

Devanagari script

हरयोमथितानागैरथजातैस्तथापरे ।शयितामृदिताश्चाश्वैर्यायुवेगैरिवाम्बुदाः ।।।।

Transliteration

harayo mathitā nāgair athajātaiḥ tathāpare | śayitā mṛditāś cāśvair vāyuvegair ivāmbudāḥ ||

Translation

Certains vānara furent broyés par des éléphants, d’autres par des amas de chars ; et d’autres encore, renversés et piétinés par des chevaux lancés à toute vitesse, gisaient dispersés, tels des nuées déchirées par la puissance du vent.

Word by Word

हरयःthe vanaras (monkeys)

मथितcrushed/ground down

नागैःby elephants

रथजातैःby masses of chariots / chariot-groups

तथाlikewise/also

अपरेothers (some others)

शयिताःlying down

मृदिताःcrushed/killed

चand

अश्वैःby horses

वायुवेगैःby wind-speeds

इवlike/as

अम्बुदाःclouds

Context

"Panasa is lying down on earth like jackfruit. Darimukha is lying down shattered by many arrows. Brilliant Kumuda too is torn off and silently lying down."

Characters & Entities

vānara-s (harayaḥ)

elephants (nāga)

chariots

horses (aśva)

wind (vāyu)

clouds (ambuda)

FAQs

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

It highlights the indiscriminate devastation of war; dharma urges that force be governed by righteousness and that truth (satya) not be sacrificed to intimidation.

What is the narrative situation?

A sweeping battlefield image is presented: vānara troops allegedly crushed by elephants, chariots, and horses, reinforcing a narrative of rout.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Collective sacrifice—the vānara army’s willingness to endure peril for Rāma’s righteous cause.