Shloka 1

मायाशिरोप्रदर्शनम्

The Display of the Illusory Head of Rāma

Devanagari script

ततस्तमक्षोभ्यबलंलङ्काधिपतयेचराः ।सुवेलेराघवंशैलेनिविष्टंप्रत्यवेदयन् ।।।।

Transliteration

tatas tam akṣobhya-balaṃ laṅkādhipataye carāḥ |

suvele rāghavaṃ śaile niviṣṭaṃ pratyavedayan ||6.31.1||

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ചാരന്മാർ ലങ്കാധിപനോടു അറിയിച്ചു: അക്ഷോഭ്യമായ സൈന്യബലമുള്ള രാഘവൻ സുവേലപർവതത്തിൽ പടയോടുകൂടെ നിലയുറപ്പിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: then/thereupon)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative Singular

• अक्षोभ्यबलम्: the unshakable army
• अक्षोभ्यबलम्: Karma (कर्म/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ + क्षोभ्य + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘unshakable (अक्षोभ्य) army (बल)’; Accusative Singular; in apposition to तम् (Rāghavam)

• लङ्काधिपतये: to the lord of Laṅkā
• लङ्काधिपतये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्का + अधिपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘lord of Laṅkā’; Dative Singular

• चराः: spies
• चराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; Nominative Plural

• सुवेले: on Suvela
• सुवेले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवेल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Locative Singular

• राघवम्: Rāghava (Rāma)
• राघवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of प्रत्यवेदयन्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative Singular

• शैले: on the mountain
• शैले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Locative Singular; in apposition to सुवेले

• निविष्टम्: encamped
• निविष्टम्: Karma-visheshana (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त PPP, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with राघवम्; ‘encamped/settled’

• प्रत्यवेदयन्: reported
• प्रत्यवेदयन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + अव + दिś्/विद् (धातु: विद् ‘to inform/know’ causative sense)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; Parasmaipada; ‘they reported’

Context

There upon the spies described the unshakeable army of Raghava staying at Suvela mountain, to the king of Lanka.

Characters & Entities

• Rāghava (Rāma)
• Rāvaṇa
• Laṅkā
• Spies (carāḥ)
• Army (akṣobhya-bala)

FAQs

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

It reflects rāja-dharma in practice: rulers rely on truthful intelligence and timely counsel; sound governance depends on accurate information (satya).

What is the narrative situation?

Spies inform Rāvaṇa that Rāma’s forces are firmly positioned on Mount Suvela, signaling imminent conflict.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic vigilance—maintaining awareness of the opponent’s movements through reconnaissance.