Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 79, Shloka 1

मकराक्षवधः

The Slaying of Makarākṣa

Devanagari script

निर्गतंमकराक्षंतेदृष्टवावानरपुङ्गवाः ।आप्लुत्यसहसासर्वेयोद्धुकामाव्यवस्थिताः ।।।।

Transliteration

nirgataṃ makarākṣaṃ te dṛṣṭvā vānarapuṅgavāḥ |

āplutya sahasā sarve yoddhukāmā vyavasthitāḥ ||

Translation

Seeing Makarākṣa emerge, those foremost of vānaras leapt up at once and took their positions, eager to fight.

Word by Word

• निर्गतम्: come out/advanced
• निर्गतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-gam (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies मकराक्षम्

• मकराक्षम्: Makaraksha
• मकराक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: makarākṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ते: those
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त)

• वानरपुङ्गवाः: chiefs of the Vanaras
• वानरपुङ्गवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara + puṅgava (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (वानराणां पुङ्गवाः), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• आप्लुत्य: having leapt
• आप्लुत्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-plu (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त)

• सहसा: suddenly
• सहसा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (शीघ्रार्थक-अव्यय)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; agrees with वानरपुङ्गवाः

• योद्धुकामाः: eager to fight
• योद्धुकामाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yoddhu (infinitive stem from yudh (धातु)) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (योद्धुं कामः), Masculine, Nominative, Plural; agrees with वानरपुङ्गवाः

• व्यवस्थिताः: stood ready
• व्यवस्थिताः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-ava-sthā (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Plural; predicative

Context

On seeing Maka raksha all the Vanara chiefs returned, jumped, and stood ready enthusiastically to fight.

Characters & Entities

• Makarākṣa
• vānarapuṅgavas (vanara chiefs)

FAQs

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

Readiness to protect one’s side in a righteous cause (defense of Rāma’s mission) is shown as disciplined courage rather than reckless aggression.

What is the narrative situation?

Makarākṣa appears on the battlefield; the vanara leaders immediately prepare to engage.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Valor and alertness in service of a just objective.