मायाशिरोप्रदर्शनम्
The Display of the Illusory Head of Rāma
इदंतुतवरामस्यकार्मुकंज्यासमायुतम् ।इहप्रहस्तेनानीतंहत्वातंनिशिमानुषम् ।।।।
idaṃ tu tava rāmasya kārmukaṃ jyāsamāyutam |
iha prahastena ānītaṃ hatvā taṃ niśi mānuṣam ||
« Voici l’arc de ton Rāma, muni de sa corde. Prahasta l’a apporté ici après avoir tué cet homme dans la nuit. »
"O Night ranger! You make an illusory head of Raghava and come and stand at me holding an arrow with great bow."
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.
Rāvaṇa claims (falsely, within the māyā-plot) that Prahasta killed Rāma and brought Rāma’s bow as proof.
Sītā’s loyalty is again highlighted: Rāvaṇa attempts to sever her hope by asserting Rāma’s death.