Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 79, Shloka 8

मकराक्षवधः

The Slaying of Makarākṣa

Devanagari script

विद्रवत्सुतदातेषुवानरेषुसमन्ततः ।रामस्तान्वारमायासशरवर्षेणराक्षसान् ।।।।

Transliteration

vidravatsu tadā teṣu vānarēṣu samantataḥ | rāmas tān vārayāmāsa śaravarṣeṇa rākṣasān ||

Translation

Als sich die Vānaras damals nach allen Seiten in die Flucht zerstreuten, hielt Rāma die Rākṣasas durch einen Regen von Pfeilen zurück.

Word by Word

• विद्रवत्सु: while (they were) running
• विद्रवत्सु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-dravat (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक from dru/drav (धातु))
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; qualifies वानरेषु

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Temporal adverb

• तेषु: among them
• तेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Locative (7th), Plural; refers to the Vanaras

• वानरेषु: among the Vanaras
• वानरेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th), Plural

• समन्ततः: on all sides
• समन्ततः: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samantataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (सर्वतोभावे)

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

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

• वारयामास: stopped/checked
• वारयामास: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛ (धातु; causative varayati)
• Form: Periphrastic perfect (लिट्-परस्मैपद), 3rd person, Singular; causative sense 'caused to stop'

• शरवर्षेण: by a rain of arrows
• शरवर्षेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara + varṣa (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (शराणां वर्षः), Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Singular

• राक्षसान्: Rakshasas
• राक्षसान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Plural

Context

Thereafter, seeing the Vanaras running all over, Rama stopped the Rakshasas by rain of arrows.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Vānaras
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma as royal duty: the righteous leader protects allies and restores order when panic spreads, using force proportionately to stop wrongdoing.

What is the narrative situation?

As the vānaras begin to flee, Rama intervenes decisively, halting the rākṣasas with sustained archery.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s protective leadership—steadfastness, presence of mind, and commitment to safeguarding those under his charge.