Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 31, Shloka 7

मायाशिरोप्रदर्शनम्

The Display of the Illusory Head of Rāma

Devanagari script

विद्युज्जिह्वंचमायाज्ञमब्रवीद्राक्षसाधिपः ।मोहयिष्यावहेसीतांमाययाजनकात्मजाम् ।।।।

Transliteration

vidyujjihvaṃ ca māyājñam abravīd rākṣasādhipaḥ |

mohayiṣyāvahe sītāṃ māyayā janakātmajām ||

Translation

ମାୟାରେ ପାରଦର୍ଶୀ ବିଦ୍ୟୁଜ୍ଜିହ୍ୱଙ୍କୁ ରାକ୍ଷସାଧିପ କହିଲେ: “ମାୟାର ଉପାୟରେ ଆମେ ଜନକନନ୍ଦିନୀ ସୀତାଙ୍କୁ ମୋହିତ କରିଦେବୁ।”

Word by Word

• विद्युज्जिह्वम्: Vidyujihva
• विद्युज्जिह्वम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of अब्रवीत्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्युत् + जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नाम

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Conjunction/समुच्चय)

• मायाज्ञम्: skilled in magic
• मायाज्ञम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मायां जानाति इति); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of विद्युज्जिह्वम्)

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• राक्षसाधिपः: lord of the Rakshasas
• राक्षसाधिपः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (राक्षसानाम् अधिपः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मोहयिष्यावहे: we two will delude
• मोहयिष्यावहे: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुह् (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple future), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), द्विवचन (Dual); परस्मैपद; causative sense ‘to delude’

• सीताम्: Sita
• सीताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मायया: by magic
• मायया: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• जनकात्मजाम्: Janaka's daughter
• जनकात्मजाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनक (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (जनकस्य आत्मजा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सीताया विशेषण-रूपेण

Context

"Prahastha has brought this bow duly tied with the string after killing human Rama in the night."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Vidyujjihva
• Sītā
• Janaka

FAQs

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

It illustrates adharma through deliberate falsehood—planning to defeat a virtuous person not by truth or rightful contest, but by deception (māyā), opposing satya.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa openly states his intention to trick Sītā and orders the illusionist Vidyujjihva to assist.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s virtue is implied by the need to “delude” her—her steadfastness requires a dishonest plot to shake.