Shloka 20

मकराक्षस्य निर्गमनम्

The Deployment of Makaraksha and Ravana’s Fury

Devanagari script

तानिदृष्टवानिमित्तानिराक्षसावीर्यवत्तमाः ।अचिन्त्यनिर्गतास्सर्वेयत्रतौरामलक्ष्मणौ ।।।।

Transliteration

tāni dṛṣṭvā nimittāni rākṣasā vīryavattamāḥ |

acintya nirgatāḥ sarve yatra tau rāmalakṣmaṇau ||

Translation

Obwohl sie jene Vorzeichen sahen, achteten die tapfersten Rākṣasas nicht darauf; und alle zogen dorthin, wo Rāma und Lakṣmaṇa standen.

Word by Word

• तानि: those (omens)
• तानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (pronoun), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त), indeclinable verbal form; action prior to main verb

• निमित्तानि: omens/signs
• निमित्तानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nimitta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• राक्षसाः: Rakshasas
• राक्षसाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• वीर्यवत्तमाः: most valiant
• वीर्यवत्तमाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīrya-vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Superlative (तमप्), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with राक्षसाः

• अचिन्त्य: without considering
• अचिन्त्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: a-cintya (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण from cint (धातु) + यत्)
• Form: Avyaya used adverbially (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण); lit. 'without considering'

• निर्गताः: went out/advanced
• निर्गताः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-gam (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृत), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); used predicatively with implied 'abhavan'

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with राक्षसाः

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (स्थानवाचक-अव्यय)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• रामलक्ष्मणौ: Rama and Lakshmana
• रामलक्ष्मणौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma + lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक-द्वन्द्व)
• Form: Dvandva compound (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); in apposition to तौ

Context

Greeting the tenheaded Rakshasa and going round him according to tradition, the mighty warrior went out from the abode early morning by the command of Ravana.

Characters & Entities

• Rakṣasas
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

A dharmic life includes heedfulness (apramāda). Ignoring warnings—moral or situational—leads to downfall; wisdom is to reflect before acting.

What is the narrative situation?

Despite repeated bad signs, the Rakṣasa warriors proceed toward Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse critiques the absence of discernment (viveka); valor alone is not a complete virtue.