Shloka 19
सीताहरणम्
Ravana reveals his true form and abducts Sita
स च मायामयो दिव्यः खरयुक्तः खरस्वनः।।3.49.19।।प्रत्यदृश्यत हेमाङ्गो रावणस्य महारथः।
sa ca māyāmayo divyaḥ kharayuktaḥ kharasvanaḥ | pratyadṛśyata hemāṅgo rāvaṇasya mahārathaḥ ||
അപ്പോൾ രാവണന്റെ മഹാരഥം പ്രത്യക്ഷപ്പെട്ടു—ദിവ്യവും മായാമയവും സ്വർണ്ണമയ അവയവങ്ങളുള്ളത്; കഴുതകൾ കെട്ടിയതും അവരുടെ കൂകൽ മുഴങ്ങുന്നതുമായത്.
There arrived the great golden chariot of Ravana, illusive and wonderful, harnessed with donkeys and braying like donkeys.
FAQs
The verse contrasts outward splendor and inner unrighteousness: māyā (deceptive power) can mask adharma, warning that appearances are not reliable measures of virtue.
Rāvaṇa’s extraordinary chariot manifests, enabling the abduction to proceed.
Discernment (viveka) is implied as a virtue—recognizing that dazzling power may be ethically hollow.