Shloka 16

मकराक्षवधः

The Slaying of Makarākṣa

Devanagari script

अस्त्रैर्वागदयावापिबाहुभ्यांवामहाहवे ।अभ्यस्तंयेनवाराम तेनैवयुधिवर्तताम् ।।।।

Transliteration

astrair vā gadayā vāpi bāhubhyāṃ vā mahāhave |

abhyastaṃ yena vā rāma tenaiva yudhi vartatām ||

Translation

飛び道具であれ、棍棒であれ、あるいはこの大合戦で素手の腕であれ、ラーマよ、汝が最も鍛えた術そのままに戦場で戦え。

Word by Word

• astraiḥ: with weapons
• astraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (or)

• gadayā: with a mace
• gadayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारक अव्यय (also/even)

• bāhubhyām: with (your) two arms
• bāhubhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय

• mahāhave: in the great battle
• mahāhave: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + āhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासार्थः: महान् आहवः (great battle)

• abhyastam: practised
• abhyastam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi + as (धातु)
• Form: अभि-उपसर्ग + क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (P.P.P.), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'practised'

• yena: by which
• yena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; यत्-सम्बन्ध (by which/with which)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय

• rāma: O Rama
• rāma: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• tena: with that
• tena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय

• yudhi: in battle
• yudhi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yudh (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (युध्-शब्दः); स्थानवाचक

• vartatām: let it be engaged/proceed
• vartatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛt (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आज्ञार्थे (let it proceed)

Context

Laughing at the words of Maka raksha who was speaking again and again Rama said.

Characters & Entities

• Makarākṣa
• Rāma

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the kṣātra ethic of direct contest: boasting is secondary to action, and one must rely on disciplined skill rather than mere words.

What is the narrative situation?

Makarākṣa challenges Rāma, urging him to fight using whichever mode of combat he is best trained in.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Martial readiness and confidence rooted in practice (abhyāsa), a key virtue in righteous warfare.