Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 31, Shloka 42

मायाशिरोप्रदर्शनम्

The Display of the Illusory Head of Rāma

Devanagari script

अग्रतःकुरुसीतायाश्शीघ्रंदाशरधेशशिरः ।अवस्थांपश्चिमांभर्तुःकृपणासाधुपश्यतु ।।।।

Transliteration

agrataḥ kuru sītāyāḥ śīghraṃ dāśaratheśa śiraḥ |

avasthāṃ paścimāṃ bhartuḥ kṛpaṇā sādhu paśyatu ||

Translation

「ダシャラタの息子の首を、速やかにシータの前に置け。あの哀れな女に、夫の最期の姿を見せてやるのだ。」

Word by Word

• अग्रतः: in front
• अग्रतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्रतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश-वाचक क्रियाविशेषण (in front)

• कुरु: place/do
• कुरु: Kriya (क्रिया/Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सीतायाः: of Sita
• सीतायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• शीघ्रम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्रम् (अव्यय/नपुंसक-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; काल-वाचक क्रियाविशेषण (quickly/at once)

• दाशरधेः: of Dasaratha's son (Rama)
• दाशरधेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाशरथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अवस्थाम्: condition/state
• अवस्थाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवस्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पश्चिमाम्: final/last
• पश्चिमाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पश्चिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying avasthām)

• भर्तुः: of (her) husband
• भर्तुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कृपणा: (O) pitiable woman
• कृपणा: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative function)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे प्रथमा (addressing Sita: pitiable woman)

• साधु: well/indeed
• साधु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साधु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुमोदन/निश्चयार्थक (particle: well/indeed)

• पश्यतु: let her see
• पश्यतु: Kriya (क्रिया/Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

At once place the head of Dasaratha's son before that piteous woman. Let her see the ultimate status attained by her husband at the end (said Ravana).

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā
• Daśaratha
• Rāma (as Daśaratha’s son)
• Vidyujihva

FAQs

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

It condemns coercion and deception as adharma; the Ramayana’s dharmic ideal upholds satya and compassion, not psychological torture of the innocent.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa orders that the supposed severed head of Rāma be displayed to Sītā to break her spirit.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s steadfastness is the implied counterpoint: unwavering commitment to truth and righteousness despite intimidation.