Shloka 27

मकराक्षवधः

The Slaying of Makarākṣa

Devanagari script

राममुक्तांस्तुबाणौघान् राक्षसस्त्वच्छिनद्रणे ।रक्षोमुक्तांस्तुरामोवैनैकथाप्राच्छिनच्छरैः ।।।।

Transliteration

rāmamuktāṃs tu bāṇaughān rākṣasas tv acchinad raṇe | rakṣomuktāṃs tu rāmo vai naikathā prācchinac charaiḥ ||

Translation

Dalam benturan pertempuran, sang rākṣasa menebas gugusan anak panah yang dilepaskan Rāma; dan Rāma pun, pada gilirannya, menghancurkan peluru-peluru panah yang dilepaskan rākṣasa itu dengan anak panahnya, dalam berbagai cara.

Word by Word

• rāma-muktān: released by Rama
• rāma-muktān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक) + mukta (कृदन्त from muc)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ‘released by Rāma’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Plural (बहुवचन); qualifies bāṇaughān

• tu: but/then
• tu: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• bāṇaughān: volleys of arrows
• bāṇaughān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa-ogha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Plural (बहुवचन)

• rākṣasaḥ: the rākṣasa
• rākṣasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन)

• tu: indeed/then
• tu: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• acchinat: cut/split
• acchinat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: chid (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्) imperfect/past, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• raṇe: in battle
• raṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी) Singular (एकवचन)

• rakṣaḥ-muktān: released by the rākṣasa
• rakṣaḥ-muktān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक) + mukta (कृदन्त from muc)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ‘released by the rākṣasa’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Plural (बहुवचन); object of prācchinat

• tu: but/then
• tu: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Emphasis (बल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय)

• na-ekadhā: into many pieces
• na-ekadhā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na + ekadhā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकार-अव्यय) ‘in many ways/pieces’

• prācchinat: shattered/cut up
• prācchinat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-chid (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्) imperfect/past, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• śaraiḥ: with arrows
• śaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया) Plural (बहुवचन)

Context

In the comb at Rakshasa split the arrows released by Rama and Rakshasa shattered the arrows released by Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Rākṣasa (Makarākṣa in immediate context)

FAQs

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

Dharma in warfare includes skill governed by purpose: defense of the righteous cause rather than cruelty. The verse depicts disciplined martial reciprocity—meeting force with appropriate counterforce.

What is the narrative situation?

A high-level exchange of missile warfare: each side intercepts and destroys the other’s arrow volleys.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kauśala (martial proficiency) and dhairya (composure): Rāma’s controlled, effective response rather than panic.