Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 79, Shloka 14

मकराक्षवधः

The Slaying of Makarākṣa

Devanagari script

अद्यमद्बाणवेगेनप्रेतराडिवषयंगतः ।येत्वयानिहताःशूराःसहतैश्चसमेष्यसि ।।।।

Transliteration

adya mad-bāṇa-vegena preta-rāḍ-viṣayaṃ gataḥ |

ye tvayā nihatāḥ śūrāḥ saha taiś ca sameṣyasi ||

Translation

“Today, driven by the speed of my arrows, you will go to the realm of Yama, and you will join those warriors whom you have slain.”

Word by Word

• adya: today/now
• adya: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (today/now)

• mad-bāṇa-vegena: by the speed of my arrow
• mad-bāṇa-vegena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad + bāṇa + vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासार्थः: मदीय-बाणस्य वेगेन (by the speed of my arrow)

• pretarāṭ: Yama, king of the dead
• pretarāṭ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pretarāj (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; यमराजः (Yama)

• iva: like
• iva: Upamāna-marker (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक अव्यय

• viṣayam: realm/domain
• viṣayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• gataḥ: gone
• gataḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past passive participle used in active sense), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ye: those who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (those who)

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• nihatāḥ: killed
• nihatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: नि-उपसर्ग + क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• śūrāḥ: heroes/warriors
• śūrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahārtha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अर्थक अव्यय (with)

• taiḥ: with them
• taiḥ: Sahakāraka (सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• sameṣyasi: you will go/join (them)
• sameṣyasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: i (धातु)
• Form: सम्-उपसर्ग + लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

"Now by the speed of my arrow I will send you totherealm of Yama and there you will be along with the demons killed by you."

Characters & Entities

• Makarākṣa
• Rāma
• Yama (Preta-rāṭ)

FAQs

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

Invoking Yama implies moral consequence beyond the battlefield; the Rāmāyaṇa repeatedly ties death to accountability, urging action aligned with satya and dharma rather than boastful violence.

What is the narrative situation?

Makarākṣa threatens to kill Rāma and send him to Yama’s realm, claiming he will join those already slain.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fearlessness in speech (though mixed with arrogance).