Shloka 16

मकराक्षस्य निर्गमनम्

The Deployment of Makaraksha and Ravana’s Fury

Devanagari script

शङ्खभेरीसहस्राणामाहतानांसमन्ततः ।क्ष्येळितास्फोटितानां च तत्रशब्दोमहानभूत् ।।।।

Transliteration

śaṅkha-bherī-sahasrāṇām āhatānāṃ samantataḥ | kṣveḷitāsphoṭitānāṃ ca tatra śabdo mahān abhūt ||

Translation

അവിടെ എല്ലാടവും ആയിരക്കണക്കിന് ശംഖങ്ങളും ഭേരികളും മുഴങ്ങി; കൂടാതെ യോദ്ധാക്കളുടെ കൂക്കലുകളും കൈകളുടെ പൊട്ടിച്ചടികളുടെ ശബ്ദവും ചേർന്ന് മഹത്തായ കോലാഹലം ഉയർന്നു.

Word by Word

शङ्खभेरीसहस्राणाम्of thousands of conches and drums

आहतानाम्being beaten

समन्ततःon all sides

क्ष्येळितास्फोटितानाम्of clappings and arm-snappings

चand

तत्रthere

शब्दःsound

महान्great

अभूत्arose/was

Context

There was a beating of drums, blowing of thousands of conchs, clapping of arms and great sound was heard.

Characters & Entities

Conches (Śaṅkha)

War-drums (Bherī)

Rākṣasa host (implied battle formation)

FAQs

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

The verse situates war as a public, collective act with wide consequences. The Ramayana’s dharmic lens asks that such collective force be governed by satya and justice—otherwise the ‘great sound’ becomes the noise of adharma spreading.

What is the narrative situation?

As the Rākṣasa forces move out, instruments and battle-cries create a massive uproar signaling the onset of combat.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Alertness and preparedness (jāgratā/samādhāna) are emphasized—qualities that gain ethical worth when used in service of dharma.