Shloka 41

मकराक्षवधः

The Slaying of Makarākṣa

Devanagari script

दशरथनृपसूनुबाणवेगैःरजनिचरंनिहतंखरात्मजंतम् ।ददृशुरथदेवताःप्रहृष्टागिरिमववज्रहतंक्षितौकीर्णम् ।।।।

Transliteration

daśaratha-nṛpa-sūnu-bāṇa-vegaiḥ rajani-caraṁ nihataṁ kharātmajaṁ tam | dadṛśur atha devatāḥ prahṛṣṭā giriṁ iva vajra-hataṁ kṣitau kīrṇam ||

Translation

Alors les dieux, transportés de joie, virent ce rôdeur de la nuit—le fils de Khara—abattu par l’élan des flèches du fils du roi Daśaratha, gisant en morceaux sur la terre tel une montagne frappée par la foudre.

Word by Word

• daśaratha-nṛpa-sūnu-bāṇa-vegaiḥ: by the force of the arrows of Daśaratha's royal son
• daśaratha-nṛpa-sūnu-bāṇa-vegaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक) + nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक) + sūnu (प्रातिपदिक) + bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa chain (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध: daśarathasya nṛpasya sūnoḥ bāṇānāṃ vegaiḥ), Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• rajani-caram: the night-roamer (rākṣasa)
• rajani-caram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rajani (प्रातिपदिक) + cara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (rajanīyāṃ carati), Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• nihatam: slain
• nihatam: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni + han (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; agrees with rajani-caram

• kharātmajam: Khara's son
• kharātmajam: Karma (कर्म/Appositional object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khara (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (ṣaṣṭhī: kharasya ātmajaḥ), Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; apposition to rajani-caram

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• dadṛśuḥ: saw
• dadṛśuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्/Perfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural

• ratha-devatāḥ: the chariot-deities
• ratha-devatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक) + devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (rathasya devatāḥ), Feminine, Nominative (1st), Plural

• prahṛṣṭāḥ: delighted
• prahṛṣṭāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra + hṛṣ (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Feminine, Nominative (1st), Plural; agrees with devatāḥ

• girim: a mountain
• girim: Upamāna (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; object of comparison with iva

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle of comparison (उपमा)

• vajra-hatam: struck as by a thunderbolt
• vajra-hatam: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक) + hata (han-धातु + kta)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (tṛtīyā: vajreṇa hatam), Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; agrees with tam/rajani-caram

• kṣitau: on the ground
• kṣitau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣiti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th), Singular

• kīrṇam: scattered/spread out
• kīrṇam: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṝ (धातु) + kta (क्त) / kīrṇa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; agrees with tam/rajani-caram

Context

Those prowlers, then ight rangers discharging javelins, swords, maces, spears, lances, small swords, bhindi Palas, shafts, nooses, mallets and staff and other weapons on the lions among the monkeys, caused destruction.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (son of Daśaratha)
• Daśaratha
• Khara
• devatās (gods)
• vajra (thunderbolt)

FAQs

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

Dharma is validated by truthful witness: the gods rejoice because the fall of the aggressor confirms that righteous action aligned with Satya ultimately prevails.

What is the narrative situation?

The scene closes with the devas observing Makarākṣa’s death, described as a thunderbolt-like shattering upon the earth.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s righteous efficacy—power exercised in alignment with moral purpose, acknowledged by divine observers.