Shloka 11

मायाशिरोप्रदर्शनम्

The Display of the Illusory Head of Rāma

Devanagari script

ततोदीनामदैन्यार्हांददर्शधनदानुजः ।।।।अधोमुखींशोकपरामुपविष्टांमहीतले ।भर्तारमेवध्यायन्तीमशोकवविकांगताम् ।।।।

Transliteration

tato dīnām adainyārhāṃ dadarśa dhanadānujaḥ |

adhomukhīṃ śoka-parām upaviṣṭāṃ mahī-tale |

bhartāram eva dhyāyantīm aśoka-vanikāṃ gatām ||6.31.11–12||

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ധനദാനുജൻ (രാവണൻ) സീതയെ കണ്ടു—ദുഃഖത്തിന് അർഹയല്ലാത്ത ദീനയായി, ഭൂമിയിൽ ഇരുന്നു മുഖം താഴ്ത്തി, ശോകത്തിൽ മുങ്ങി, അശോകവനികയിൽ ഭർത്താവിനെ മാത്രം ധ്യാനിച്ചുകൊണ്ടിരുന്നവളെ.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Adverb; ‘then’)

• दीनाम्: sad
• दीनाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of implied सीताम्)

• अदैन्यार्हाम्: not deserving misery
• अदैन्यार्हाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ- (नञ्) + दैन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (दैन्यस्य अर्हा) with नञ्-निषेध; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• धनदानुजः: younger brother of Kubera
• धनदानुजः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनद (प्रातिपदिक; Kubera) + अनुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (धनदस्य अनुजः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (Rāvaṇa)

• अधोमुखीम्: downcast-faced
• अधोमुखीम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधस् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (अधो मुखं यस्याः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शोकपराम्: overcome with sorrow
• शोकपराम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोक (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (शोके परा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• उपविष्टाम्: seated
• उपविष्टाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश् (धातु) + उप- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past participle; ‘seated’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• महीतले: on the ground
• महीतले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक) + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मही-तलम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• भर्तारम्: husband
• भर्तारम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of ध्यायन्तीम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एव: only
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण/Only)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Particle; exclusivity)

• ध्यायन्तीम्: meditating on
• ध्यायन्तीम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अशोकवनिकाम्: the Ashoka grove
• अशोकवनिकाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of गताम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशोकवनिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गताम्: gone to
• गताम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of the woman/Sītā)

Context

Thereafter, the younger brother of Kubera (Ravana) saw sad Sita, who did not deserve that piteous condition, who had been reduced to sorrowful state, seated on the ground in Asoka grove, with her head bent down filled with sorrow contemplating on her husband alone.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa
• Kubera (Dhanada)
• Aśoka-vana (Aśoka grove)

FAQs

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

Sītā’s steadfast fidelity and truthfulness of heart (satya in commitment) is presented as dharma: even under coercion, she remains anchored in loyalty to her rightful spouse.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa comes to the Aśoka grove and sees Sītā seated on the ground, grieving and absorbed in thoughts of Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s constancy (steadfastness) and purity of intent—unbroken devotion despite fear and deprivation.