Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 79, Shloka 7

मकराक्षवधः

The Slaying of Makarākṣa

Devanagari script

तान्दृष्टवाराक्षसास्सर्वेद्रवमाणान्वलीमुखान् ।नेदुस्तेसिम्हवद्दृष्टाराक्षसाजितकाशिनः ।।।।

Transliteration

tān dṛṣṭvā rākṣasāḥ sarve dravamāṇān valīmukhān | nedus te siṃhavad dṛṣṭā rākṣasā jitakāśinaḥ ||

Translation

فلما رأى الرَّاكشَسَةُ جميعًا الفانَرةَ يفرّون، زأروا زئيرَ الأسود، كأنهم قد حازوا النصرَ من قبل.

Word by Word

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Plural

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

• राक्षसाः: Rakshasas
• राक्षसाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• द्रवमाणान्: running
• द्रवमाणान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: drav (धातु)
• Form: Present middle participle (शानच्/आनच्), Masculine, Accusative, Plural; qualifies वलीमुखान्

• वलीमुखान्: monkeys (valīmukhas)
• वलीमुखान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: valīmukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• नेदुः: roared
• नेदुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nad (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Plural, Parasmaipada

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सिंहवत्: like lions
• सिंहवत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: siṃha-vat (अव्ययवत्-प्रयोग)
• Form: Indeclinable comparative in -वत् (उपमावाचक)

• दृष्टाः: thinking/considering (themselves) seen as
• दृष्टाः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Plural; predicative with implied 'being/considering themselves'

• राक्षसाः: Rakshasas
• राक्षसाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; apposition to ते

• जितकाशिनः: as if triumphant
• जितकाशिनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jita + kāśin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi ('whose splendor/appearance is victorious' or 'as if victorious'); Masculine, Nominative, Plural; agrees with राक्षसाः

Context

The monkeys saw all the arrogant Rakshasas roaring like lions and running as though triumphed.

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasas
• Vānaras

FAQs

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

The verse warns against arrogance and premature celebration; Dharma values humility and right conduct, not exultation based on others’ momentary weakness.

What is the narrative situation?

The rākṣasas, encouraged by the vānaras’ retreat, roar and posture as if victory is assured.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Implicitly, restraint and humility are contrasted with the rākṣasas’ prideful boasting.