Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 78, Shloka 4

मकराक्षस्य निर्गमनम्

The Deployment of Makaraksha and Ravana’s Fury

Devanagari script

रावणस्यवचश्श्रुत्वाशूरमानीखरात्मजः ।बाढमित्यब्रवीद्धृष्टोमकराक्षोनिशाचरम् ।।।।

Transliteration

rāvaṇasya vacaḥ śrutvā śūramānī kharātmajaḥ |

bāḍham ity abravīd dhṛṣṭo makarākṣo niśācaraḥ ||

Translation

रावण के वचन सुनकर, शौर्याभिमानी खर-पुत्र निशाचर मकराक्ष ने धृष्टतापूर्वक कहा—“बाढ़म् (ऐसा ही हो)।”

Word by Word

• rāvaṇasya: of Ravana
• rāvaṇasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• vacaḥ: words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म) (object of śrutvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा)

• śūramānī: hero-proud
• śūramānī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śūra + mānin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'proud of being a hero'; qualifies kharātmajaḥ/makarākṣaḥ

• kharātmajaḥ: Khara's son
• kharātmajaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khara + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa 'son of Khara'

• bāḍham: certainly/very well
• bāḍham: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bāḍham (अव्यय)
• Form: Assent particle/adverb (स्वीकृत्यर्थक अव्यय)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इत्यादि-वाचक)

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्) Aorist, Parasmaipada; 3rd person, Singular

• hṛṣṭaḥ: rejoiced
• hṛṣṭaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hṛṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक; √hṛṣ धातु-कृदन्त)
• Form: Kta participle; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifies makarākṣaḥ

• makarākṣaḥ: Makaraksha
• makarākṣaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता) (apposition to kharātmajaḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: makara + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; proper name

• niśācaram: the night-ranger (Rakshasa)
• niśācaram: Karma (कर्म) / addressed person
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśācara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; in apposition to rāvaṇaṃ understood; object of abravīt (addressed/mentioned)

Context

At the departure of evil minded and angry Maka raksha, dreadful and violent wind blew carrying with crumbling dust.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Makarākṣa
• Khara
• Rakṣasa (niśācara)

FAQs

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

The verse warns against pride (mada) that mistakes aggression for virtue; Dharma values courage guided by right purpose, not mere bravado.

What is the narrative situation?

Makarākṣa accepts Rāvaṇa’s order and prepares to go to the battlefield.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Martial confidence is highlighted, but it is shaded as overconfidence—courage without discernment.