Valmiki Ramayana 6.31.33 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 31, Shloka 33

मायाशिरोप्रदर्शनम्

The Display of the Illusory Head of Rāma

Devanagari script

हरयोमथितानागैरथजातैस्तथापरे ।शयितामृदिताश्चाश्वैर्यायुवेगैरिवाम्बुदाः ।।।।

Transliteration

harayo mathitā nāgair athajātaiḥ tathāpare | śayitā mṛditāś cāśvair vāyuvegair ivāmbudāḥ ||

Translation

ചില ഹരികൾ (വാനരർ) ആനകളാൽ ചതഞ്ഞു, ചിലർ രഥസമൂഹങ്ങളാൽ; ചിലർ കുതിരകളുടെ വേഗത്തിൽ തല്ലി ചവിട്ടപ്പെട്ടു വീണു—കാറ്റിന്റെ പ്രബലതയിൽ പിളർന്ന മേഘങ്ങൾപോലെ ചിതറി കിടന്നു.

Word by Word

• हरयः: the vanaras (monkeys)
• हरयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• मथित: crushed/ground down
• मथित: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मथ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying harayaḥ)

• नागैः: by elephants
• नागैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• रथजातैः: by masses of chariots / chariot-groups
• रथजातैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ-जात (प्रातिपदिक; रथ + जात)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष-समासः (जातं रथानाम् = a mass/collection of chariots)

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• अपरे: others (some others)
• अपरे: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम-प्रयोग (pronominal adjective used substantively)

• शयिताः: lying down
• शयिताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शी (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying apare)

• मृदिताः: crushed/killed
• मृदिताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying apare)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• अश्वैः: by horses
• अश्वैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• वायुवेगैः: by wind-speeds
• वायुवेगैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु-वेग (प्रातिपदिक; वायु + वेग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष-समासः (वेगः वायोः = speed of wind)

• इव: like/as
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा-वाचक (comparative particle)

• अम्बुदाः: clouds
• अम्बुदाः: Upamana (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बुद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; उपमेय/उपमान-प्रयोग (used as standard of comparison)

Context

"Panasa is lying down on earth like jackfruit. Darimukha is lying down shattered by many arrows. Brilliant Kumuda too is torn off and silently lying down."

Characters & Entities

• vānara-s (harayaḥ)
• elephants (nāga)
• chariots
• horses (aśva)
• wind (vāyu)
• clouds (ambuda)

FAQs

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

It highlights the indiscriminate devastation of war; dharma urges that force be governed by righteousness and that truth (satya) not be sacrificed to intimidation.

What is the narrative situation?

A sweeping battlefield image is presented: vānara troops allegedly crushed by elephants, chariots, and horses, reinforcing a narrative of rout.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Collective sacrifice—the vānara army’s willingness to endure peril for Rāma’s righteous cause.