Shloka 24
मायाशिरोप्रदर्शनम्
The Display of the Illusory Head of Rāma
अथसुप्तस्यरामस्यप्रहस्तेनप्रमाथिना ।असक्तंकृतहस्तेनशिरश्छिन्नंमहासिना ।।।।
atha suptasya rāmasya prahastena pramāthinā | asaktaṃ kṛta-hastena śiraś chinnaṃ mahāsinā ||
അപ്പോൾ കൈപ്പാടുള്ള ഭയങ്കരനായ പ്രഹസ്തൻ മഹാഖഡ്ഗംകൊണ്ട്, അനാസക്തനായി നിർഭയമായി, നിദ്രിച്ചിരുന്ന രാമന്റെ ശിരസ് ഛേദിച്ചു.
Again, and again lifting spears, iron bars, javelins, huge staffs, sparkling maces, shining iron mallets and clubs, lances and strong Musalas, the Rakshasas hurled at Vanaras.
FAQs
The dharmic lesson is the danger of falsehood used as a weapon: Rāvaṇa’s gruesome claim is meant to shatter Sītā’s satya-based hope and fidelity. The epic upholds truth and steadfastness against such manufactured despair.
Rāvaṇa culminates his intimidation by asserting that Prahasta beheaded a sleeping Rāma—part of a coercive, likely false report intended to break Sītā.
Sītā’s unwavering commitment to dharma (faithfulness, truth, and endurance) is the virtue under attack and therefore most emphasized.