Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 31, Shloka 12

मायाशिरोप्रदर्शनम्

The Display of the Illusory Head of Rāma

Devanagari script

ततोदीनामदैन्यार्हांददर्शधनदानुजः ।।6.31.11।।अधोमुखींशोकपरामुपविष्टांमहीतले ।भर्तारमेवध्यायन्तीमशोकवविकांगताम् ।।6.31.12।।

Transliteration

upāsyamānāṃ ghorābhī rākṣasībhir itas tataḥ |

upasṛtya tataḥ sītāṃ praharṣaṃ nāma kīrtayan |

idaṃ ca vacanaṃ dhṛṣṭam uvāca janakātmajām ||6.31.13||

Translation

Когда её со всех сторон стерегли ужасные ракшаси, он, приблизившись к Сите с ликованием, восхваляя себя, произнёс дочери Джанаки эти бесстыдные слова.

Word by Word

• अधोमुखीम्: with face bent down
• अधोमुखीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधोमुखी (प्रातिपदिक; अधस् + मुखी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (fem. acc. sg.)

• शोकपराम्: overcome with sorrow
• शोकपराम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोकपरा (प्रातिपदिक; शोक + परा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (fem. acc. sg.)

• उपविष्टाम्: seated
• उपविष्टाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-विश् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय; past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘seated’

• महीतले: on the ground
• महीतले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीतल (प्रातिपदिक; मही + तल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; locative

• भर्तारम्: husband
• भर्तारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle of emphasis/restriction)

• ध्यायन्तीम्: pondering
• ध्यायन्तीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (शतृ-प्रत्यय; present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘meditating/pondering’

• अशोकवनिकाम्: the Aśoka grove
• अशोकवनिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशोकवनिका (प्रातिपदिक; अशोक + वनिका)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• गताम्: having gone to / being in
• गताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय; past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘gone/come to’

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
• Janaka

FAQs

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

It foregrounds speech-ethics and consent: dharma rejects coercive speech and intimidation, especially against the vulnerable; power must not become license for humiliation.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā is guarded by rākṣasī women; Rāvaṇa approaches and begins addressing her boldly.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Negatively, Rāvaṇa’s lack of shame and misuse of authority; by implication, Sītā’s moral dignity under surveillance.