Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 79, Shloka 5

मकराक्षवधः

The Slaying of Makarākṣa

Devanagari script

शक्तिखडगगदाकुन्तैस्तोमरैश्चनिशाचराः ।पट्टसैर्भिण्ढिपालैश्चबाणपातैःसमन्ततः ।।6.79.4।।पाशमुद्गरदण्डैश्चनिखातैश्चापरेस्तथा ।कदनंकपिसिंहानांचक्रुस्तेरजनीचराः ।।6.79.5।।

Transliteration

śakti-khaḍga-gadā-kuntais tomaraiś ca niśācarāḥ | paṭṭasair bhiṇḍipālaiś ca bāṇa-pātaiḥ samantataḥ | pāśa-mudgara-daṇḍaiś ca nikhātaiś cāpare tathā | kadanaṁ kapi-siṁhānāṁ cakrus te rajanīcarāḥ ||

Translation

Mit Speeren, Schwertern, Keulen, Lanzen, Spießen, kurzen Klingen, Bhiṇḍipālas und Pfeilhageln – zusammen mit Schlingen, Schlegeln, Stäben und anderen Waffen – verursachten die Nachtwandler ringsum Verheerung unter den löwengleichen Affen.

Word by Word

• पाशमुद्गरदण्डैः: with nooses, mallets, and staffs
• पाशमुद्गरदण्डैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāśa + mudgara + daṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक-समाहार)
• Form: Dvandva list-compound; Instrumental, Plural

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle

• निखातैः: with embedded/fastened (weapons)
• निखातैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ni-khāta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक from khan (धातु))
• Form: PPP used as noun 'fixed/embedded (weapons)'; Instrumental, Plural

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle

• अपरे: others
• अपरे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; 'others' (others weapons/others too)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (तुल्यप्रकारे)

• कदनम्: slaughter/destruction
• कदनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kadana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• कपिसिंहानाम्: of the lion-like monkeys
• कपिसिंहानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapi + siṃha (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (कपीनां सिंहाः), Masculine, Genitive (6th), Plural

• चक्रुः: made/caused
• चक्रुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Plural, Parasmaipada

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

• रजनीचराः: night-rangers (Rakshasas)
• रजनीचराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rajanī + cara (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; apposition to ते

Context

Seeing Maka raksha fall, those Rakshasas became scared of Rama's arrow and ran straight to Lanka.

Characters & Entities

• rākṣasas (niśācara/rajanīcara)
• vānaras (kapi-siṁha)

FAQs

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

It presents the moral urgency of resisting oppression: dharma requires confronting forces that spread indiscriminate harm.

What is the narrative situation?

A continued description (parallel to 6.79.4) of rākṣasas attacking the Vānara warriors with many weapons.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Endurance in a just struggle—bearing hardship for the protection of the righteous cause.