Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 31, Shloka 21

मायाशिरोप्रदर्शनम्

The Display of the Illusory Head of Rāma

Devanagari script

तत्प्रहस्तप्रणीतेनबलेनमहतामम ।बलमस्यहतंरात्रौयत्ररामस्सलक्ष्मणः ।।।।

Transliteration

tat prahasta-praṇītena balena mahatā mama | balam asya hataṃ rātrau yatra rāmaḥ sa-lakṣmaṇaḥ ||

Translation

就在那处夜里，我由普罗诃斯塔率领的大军袭击并击溃了他们的兵众——正是罗摩与罗什曼那所在之地。

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; deictic ‘that’ (linking)

• prahasta-praṇītena: by (a force) led by Prahasta
• prahasta-praṇītena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prahasta-praṇīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (agreeing with balena), Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/3rd), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: prahastena praṇītam ‘led by Prahasta’

• balena: by an army
• balena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/3rd), Ekavacana

• mahatā: great
• mahatā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/3rd), Ekavacana; qualifying balena

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

• balam: army
• balam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana

• asya: of him/of this (their)
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Napुंसakaliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive/6th), Ekavacana

• hatam: killed
• hatam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana; past passive participle (क्त): ‘killed’ (predicate with balam)

• rātrau: at night
• rātrau: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rātri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī (Locative/7th), Ekavacana

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; relative adverb (place)

• rāmaḥ: Rāma
• rāmaḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• sa-lakṣmaṇaḥ: with Lakṣmaṇa
• sa-lakṣmaṇaḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; avyayībhāva: sa- ‘with’ + Lakṣmaṇa = ‘together with Lakṣmaṇa’

Context

"There in that camp Lakshmana and Rama are killed by my powerful army led by Prahastha at night."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Prahasta
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Satya is central by negation: Rāvaṇa’s narrative is crafted to deceive Sītā and weaken her dharmic resolve. The Ramayana repeatedly frames truthfulness as a pillar that must not be surrendered under emotional assault.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa asserts that his army, under Prahasta, attacked at night and destroyed Rāma’s forces near where Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa were stationed.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s commitment to truth and loyalty is tested; her virtue lies in not accepting enemy propaganda as reality.