Shloka 33

मकराक्षवधः

The Slaying of Makarākṣa

Devanagari script

विभ्राम्यतुमहच्छूलंप्रज्वलन्तन्निशाचरः ।।।।स क्रोधाप्राहिणोत्तस्मैराघवायमहात्मने ।

Transliteration

vibhrāmya tu mahacchūlaṃ prajvalantaṃ niśācaraḥ | sa krodhāt prāhiṇot tasmai rāghavāya mahātmane ||

Translation

夜をさまよう羅刹は、その燃え立つ大槍を振り回し、怒りにまかせて大いなる魂のラ―ガヴァへ投げ放った。

Word by Word

• विभ्राम्य: having whirled
• विभ्राम्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + bhram (भ्रम्, धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकाल (having whirled/brandished)

• तु: then
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), विरोध/अनुक्रम (but/then)

• महत्: great
• महत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; qualifying शूलम्

• शूलम्: pike
• शूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• प्रज्वलन्तम्: blazing
• प्रज्वलन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra + jval (ज्वल्, धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; qualifying शूलम्

• निशाचरः: the night-ranger
• निशाचरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśācara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (निशायां चरः), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; refers to निशाचरः

• क्रोधात्: from anger
• क्रोधात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krodha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; हेतौ (ablative of cause)

• प्राहिणोत्: hurled/sent forth
• प्राहिणोत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + hi (हि, धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; recipient

• राघवाय: to Raghava
• राघवाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; apposition to तस्मै

• महात्मने: to the great-souled one
• महात्मने: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (महान् आत्मा यस्य), पुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; epithet of राघव

Context

The night ranger whirling round and round the glowing pike furiously hurled at Raghava in that conflict.

Characters & Entities

• Makarākṣa (implied by context)
• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Śūla (pike)

FAQs

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

Anger (krodha) is shown as the driver of destructive action. Dharma requires mastery over rage; when weapons are hurled from fury, truth and righteousness are eclipsed by impulse.

What is the narrative situation?

The rākṣasa escalates the duel by spinning and throwing the blazing pike directly at Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma is marked as mahātman (great-souled), indicating inner steadiness and moral stature—qualities that stand opposed to anger-driven aggression.