Shloka 19

मकराक्षवधः

The Slaying of Makarākṣa

Devanagari script

चतुर्दशसहस्राणिरक्षसांत्वत्पिता च यः ।त्रिशिरादूषणश्चापिदण्डकेनिहतामया ।।।।

Transliteration

caturdaśa-sahasrāṇi rakṣasāṃ tvat-pitā ca yaḥ |

triśirā dūṣaṇaś cāpi daṇḍake nihatā mayā ||

Translation

Dans le Daṇḍaka, quatorze mille Rākṣasas—et ton père lui-même—avec Triśiras et Dūṣaṇa, furent mis à mort par moi.

Word by Word

• caturdaśa: fourteen
• caturdaśa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caturdaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvigu-samāsa (द्विगु-समास) used adjectivally; indeclinable numeral functioning as qualifier of sahasrāṇi

• sahasrāṇi: thousands
• sahasrāṇi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Plural (बहुवचन)

• rakṣasām: of the rākṣasas
• rakṣasām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी) Plural (बहुवचन)

• tvat-pitā: your father
• tvat-pitā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) ‘your father’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन)

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

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun

• triśirāḥ: Triśiras
• triśirāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri-śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi (बहुव्रीहि) proper name ‘three-headed’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन)

• dūṣaṇaḥ: Dūṣaṇa
• dūṣaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन)

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

• api: also
• api: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/बल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अपि) = also/even

• daṇḍake: in Daṇḍaka (forest)
• daṇḍake: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṇḍaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी) Singular (एकवचन)

• nihatāḥ: killed
• nihatāḥ: Karma (कर्म) in passive sense / Predicative
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-han (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कर्मणि कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग) Nominative (प्रथमा) Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with implied ‘te’ (they)

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (तृतीया) Singular (एकवचन)

Context

Then ensued a battle between Rakshasas and Vanaras whichcaused horripilation, just like the battle between Devas and Danavas.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Makarākṣa
• Daṇḍaka
• Triśiras
• Dūṣaṇa
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

It underscores accountability: aggression and adharma bring consequences, and the protector (Rāma) recalls prior justice enacted against violent forces.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma reminds Makarākṣa of earlier defeats of Rākṣasa leaders in Daṇḍaka, establishing his proven strength before the duel escalates.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kṣātra-tejas (martial prowess) aligned with the duty to restrain harm.