Shloka 31

मकराक्षवधः

The Slaying of Makarākṣa

Devanagari script

तत्तिष्ठद्वसुधांरक्षश्शूलंजग्राहपाणिना ।त्रासनंसर्वभूतानांयुगान्ताग्निसमप्रभम् ।।।।

Transliteration

tat tiṣṭhad vasudhāṃ rakṣaḥ śūlaṃ jagrāha pāṇinā | trāsanaṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ yugāntāgnisamaprabham ||

Translation

Debout là sur la terre, le rākṣasa saisit une pique dans sa main, épouvante de tous les êtres, flamboyante comme le feu de la fin des âges.

Word by Word

• तत्: then/thereupon
• तत्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; adverbial/accusative of circumstance: 'then/that time'

• तिष्ठत्: standing
• तिष्ठत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthā (स्था, धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; qualifying रक्षः

• वसुधाम्: the ground
• वसुधाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasudhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; (accusative of place in poetry)

• रक्षः: the rakshasa
• रक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• शूलम्: pike/trident
• शूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• जग्राह: seized
• जग्राह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (ग्रह्, धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पाणिना: with (his) hand
• पाणिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• त्रासनम्: a terror
• त्रासनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: trāsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; appositional to शूलम्

• सर्वभूतानाम्: of all beings
• सर्वभूतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (सर्वाणि भूतानि), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• युगान्ताग्निसमप्रभम्: having a radiance like the fire at the end of an age
• युगान्ताग्निसमप्रभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yugānta + agni + sama + prabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (युगान्ते अग्निः तेन समा प्रभा यस्य), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; qualifying शूलम्/त्रासनम्

Context

Standing on the ground that Rakshasa who created fear among all beings shone like fire at the time of dissolution of the universe, seized his pike in hand.

Characters & Entities

• Makarākṣa (implied by context)
• Śūla (pike)
• Yugānta-agni (fire at cosmic dissolution)

FAQs

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

The verse contrasts fear-driven power with righteous purpose. Dharma is not measured by how terrifying a weapon is, but by the justice of the cause and the restraint of the wielder.

What is the narrative situation?

After losing his chariot, the rākṣasa escalates by taking up a dreadful pike described with apocalyptic imagery.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

For the antagonist, it shows audacity and intimidation; by implication it sets the stage for Rāma’s steadiness against terror.