Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 78, Shloka 10

मकराक्षस्य निर्गमनम्

The Deployment of Makaraksha and Ravana’s Fury

Devanagari script

अहंराक्षसराजेनरावणेनमहात्मना ।आज्ञप्तःसमरेहन्तुंतावुभौरामलक्ष्मणौ ।।।।

Transliteration

ahaṃ rākṣasarājena rāvaṇena mahātmanā | ājñaptaḥ samare hantuṃ tāv ubhau rāma-lakṣmaṇau ||

Translation

J’ai reçu l’ordre de Rāvaṇa, le grand roi des Rākṣasas, de tuer au combat ces deux-là : Rāma et Lakṣmaṇa.

Word by Word

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, उत्तमपुरुषार्थक; एकवचन; प्रथमा (Nominative singular)

• राक्षसराजेन: by the king of Rakshasas
• राक्षसराजेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षसराज (प्रातिपदिक: राक्षस + राजन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (Instrumental) एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (rākṣasānāṃ rājā)

• रावणेन: by Ravana
• रावणेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (Instrumental) एकवचन

• महात्मना: great-souled
• महात्मना: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (Instrumental) एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् आत्मा यस्य) विशेषणम् रावणेन

• आज्ञप्तः: ordered
• आज्ञप्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आज्ञप्/आज्ञा (धातु: आज्ञप्, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘आज्ञप्तः’ = commanded/ordered

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (Locative) एकवचन

• हन्तुम्: to kill
• हन्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-रूप (Infinitive); ‘to kill’

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग; द्विवचन; द्वितीया (Accusative dual)

• उभौ: both
• उभौ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्विवचन; द्वितीया (Accusative dual); विशेषणम् तौ

• रामलक्ष्मणौ: Rama and Lakshmana
• रामलक्ष्मणौ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रामलक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक: राम + लक्ष्मण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वन्द्व-समास; द्विवचन; द्वितीया (Accusative dual)

Context

"I will kill both Rama and Lakshmana in the battle, by the order of Ravana, the king of Rakshasas."

Characters & Entities

• Makarākṣa
• Rāvaṇa
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

The verse raises the tension between obedience to a ruler and moral rightness. Ramayana ethics repeatedly imply that loyalty (bhṛtya-dharma) is not absolute when the master stands in adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

A Rākṣasa commander (Makarākṣa) declares his mission: he has been ordered by Rāvaṇa to kill Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Resolve and martial commitment are emphasized (even though serving an unrighteous cause), showing how courage without dharma can be misdirected.