Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 78, Shloka 7

मकराक्षस्य निर्गमनम्

The Deployment of Makaraksha and Ravana’s Fury

Devanagari script

तस्यतद्वचनंश्रुत्वाबलाध्यक्षोनिशाचरः ।स्यन्दनं च बलंचैवसमीपंप्रत्यपादयत् ।।।

Transliteration

tasya tad-vacanaṃ śrutvā balādhyakṣo niśācaraḥ |

syandanaṃ ca balaṃ caiva samīpaṃ pratyapādayat ||

Translation

उसका वचन सुनकर निशाचर सेनापति ने रथ और सेना—दोनों को निकट लाकर तैनात कर दिया।

Word by Word

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; qualifies vacanam

• vacanam: speech/command
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म) (object of śrutvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• balādhyakṣaḥ: army commander
• balādhyakṣaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala + adhyakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• niśācaraḥ: Rakshasa
• niśācaraḥ: Kartā (कर्ता) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśācara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; apposition to balādhyakṣaḥ

• syandanam: chariot
• syandanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: syandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• balam: army/force
• balam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• eva: also/indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle

• samīpam: nearby
• samīpam: Karma (कर्म) / destination
• Type: Noun
• Root: samīpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; goal of motion

• pratyapādayat: brought/placed near
• pratyapādayat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√pad (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्) Aorist, Parasmaipada; 3rd person, Singular; causative/denominative sense 'caused to be brought/placed'

Context

Upon hearing those words, the commander-in-chief of the Rakshasas responded and placed the army near him.

Characters & Entities

• syandana (chariot)
• bala (army)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights preparedness and orderly response to command—an aspect of yuddha-nīti (ethical conduct in warfare) where action follows instruction without chaos.

What is the narrative situation?

A rākṣasa commander, having heard an order, arranges immediate logistical support by bringing the chariot and troops close.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discipline and readiness (prompt execution of duty).