Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 31, Shloka 16

मायाशिरोप्रदर्शनम्

The Display of the Illusory Head of Rāma

Devanagari script

विसृजेमांमतिंमूढे: किंमृतेनकरिष्यसि ।भवस्वभद्रे: भार्याणांसर्वेसामीश्वरीमम ।।।।

Transliteration

visṛja etāṃ matiṃ mūḍhe; kiṃ mṛtena kariṣyasi | bhava sva-bhadre bhāryāṇāṃ sarvāsām īśvarī mama ||

Translation

愚昧的女子啊，舍弃这念头吧；你要一个几如已死的丈夫又有何用？美丽的女子啊，做我众妻之上的王后吧。

Word by Word

• visṛja: give up/abandon
• visṛja: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-sṛj (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (Imperative), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• etām: this
• etām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana; demonstrative adjective qualifying matim

• matim: thought/intention
• matim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana

• mūḍhe: O foolish one
• mūḍhe: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūḍha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Strīliṅga (vocative usage), Sambodhana (Vocative), Ekavacana

• kim: what
• kim: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā (Nom/Acc), Ekavacana; interrogative used adverbially

• mṛtena: with a dead one
• mṛtena: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Napुंसakaliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/3rd), Ekavacana; ‘with a dead (man)’

• kariṣyasi: will you do
• kariṣyasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ-lakāra (Periphrastic future), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• bhavasva: become/be
• bhavasva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (Imperative), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd), Ekavacana; ātmanepada

• bhadre: O auspicious one
• bhadre: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhadra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Sambodhana (Vocative), Ekavacana

• bhāryāṇām: of wives
• bhāryāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive/6th), Bahuvacana

• sarveṣām: of all
• sarveṣām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Napुंसakaliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive/6th), Bahuvacana; adjective qualifying bhāryāṇām

• īśvarī: mistress/queen
• īśvarī: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive/6th), Ekavacana

Context

"O Foolish one! Give up these thoughts from your mind. What will you do with your deceased husband? O auspicious one! You are the queen of all my wives."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā

FAQs

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

The verse highlights adharma by contrast: Rāvaṇa attempts to break Sītā’s fidelity and truthfulness through fear and inducement. Dharma here is implied as steadfast loyalty and integrity in marriage, resisting coercion and unethical offers.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa tries to manipulate Sītā by urging her to abandon hope in Rāma and accept royal status among his wives—part of a deceptive strategy to unsettle her resolve.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s virtue is implicit: steadfastness (dhṛti) and fidelity (pativratā-bhāva), remaining anchored in satya despite intimidation and allure.