Shloka 39

मायाशिरोप्रदर्शनम्

The Display of the Illusory Head of Rāma

Devanagari script

राक्षसंक्रूरकर्माणंविद्युज्जिह्वंत्वमानय ।येनतद्राघवशिरस्सङ्ग्रामात्स्वयमाहृतम् ।।।।

Transliteration

rākṣasaṃ krūrakarmāṇaṃ vidyujjihvaṃ tvam ānaya |

yena tad rāghavaśiraḥ saṅgrāmāt svayam āhṛtam ||

Translation

ക്രൂരകർമ്മനായ വിദ്യുജ്ജിഹ്വ എന്ന രാക്ഷസനെ ഇവിടെ കൊണ്ടുവരിക; യുദ്ധഭൂമിയിൽ നിന്ന് ആ രാഘവന്റെ ശിരസ് സ്വയം കൊണ്ടുവന്നത് അവനാണ്.

Word by Word

• राक्षसम्: the rakshasa
• राक्षसम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• क्रूरकर्माणम्: of cruel deeds
• क्रूरकर्माणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रूर-कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; क्रूर + कर्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि-समासः (क्रूराणि कर्माणि यस्य = one whose deeds are cruel) विशेषण (qualifying rākṣasam/vidyujjihvam)

• विद्युज्जिह्वम्: Vidyujihva
• विद्युज्जिह्वम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्युत्-जिह्व (प्रातिपदिक; विद्युत् + जिह्व)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (विद्युत्-इव जिह्वा यस्य/विद्युत्सदृशी जिह्वा = Vidyujihva, proper name)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• आनय: bring
• आनय: Kriya (क्रिया/Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-नी (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• येन: by whom
• येन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun: by whom)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेष्य-निर्देश (that)

• राघवशिरः: Rama's head
• राघवशिरः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव-शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक; राघव + शिरस्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिरः राघवस्य = Raghava's head)

• सङ्ग्रामात्: from the battlefield
• सङ्ग्रामात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्ग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन

• स्वयम्: personally
• स्वयम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मनः-प्रयोग (reflexive adverb: oneself)

• आहृतम्: brought
• आहृतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र विशेषण (qualifying rāghavaśiraḥ)

Context

"Bring that Rakshasa, Vidyujihvam of cruel deeds who brought Rama's head from the battlefield."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Vidyujihva
• Rāghava (Rāma)
• battlefield

FAQs

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

It shows adharma through deliberate deception and intimidation; dharma in the Ramayana upholds truth (satya) and rejects cruelty as a means of persuasion.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa orders an attendant to summon Vidyujihva, who is associated with producing the supposed “head of Rāma.”

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Negatively framed: the absence of compassion and truthfulness in Rāvaṇa’s strategy.