Shloka 9

मकराक्षवधः

The Slaying of Makarākṣa

Devanagari script

रितान्राक्षसान्दृष्टवामकराक्षोनिशाचरः ।क्रोधानलसमाविष्टोवचनंचेदमब्रवीत् ।।।।

Transliteration

vāritān rākṣasān dṛṣṭvā makarākṣo niśācaraḥ | krodhānalasamāviṣṭo vacanaṃ cedam abravīt ||

Translation

ತಡೆಯಲ್ಪಟ್ಟ ರಾಕ್ಷಸರನ್ನು ಕಂಡು, ನಿಶಾಚರ ಮಕಾರಾಕ್ಷನು ಕ್ರೋಧಾಗ್ನಿಯಿಂದ ಆವೃತನಾಗಿ ಈ ವಚನವನ್ನು ಉಚ್ಚರಿಸಿದನು.

Word by Word

• ritān: intercepted/checked
• ritān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• rākṣasān: Rakshasas
• rākṣasān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive)

• makarākṣaḥ: Makaraksha
• makarākṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: makara + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; नाम (proper noun)

• niśācaraḥ: night-ranger (rakshasa)
• niśācaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśā + cara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (night-wanderer)

• krodha-anala-samāviṣṭaḥ: possessed by the fire of anger
• krodha-anala-samāviṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krodha + anala + samāviṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासार्थः: क्रोधरूप-अनलेन सम्यगाविष्टः

• vacanam: speech/words
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• abravīt: said/spoke
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

Seeing the intercepted Rakshasas, the night ranger Maka raksha was overtaken by fire of anger spoke these words.

Characters & Entities

• Makarākṣa
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how anger clouds judgment; Dharma requires self-mastery, whereas wrath becomes a destructive ‘fire’ that drives reckless speech and action.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama’s arrows halt the rākṣasas; Makarākṣa notices this reversal and prepares to respond, speaking in anger.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast, the virtue implied is restraint (dama) and clarity—qualities absent in Makarākṣa’s anger-driven reaction.