Shloka 21

मकराक्षस्य निर्गमनम्

The Deployment of Makaraksha and Ravana’s Fury

Devanagari script

घनगजमहिषाङ्गतुल्यवर्णास्समरमखेष्वसकृद्गदासिभिन्नाः ।अहमहमितियुद्धकौशलास्तेरजनीचराःपरिबभ्रमुर्नदन्तः ।।।।

Transliteration

ghanagajamahiṣāṅga-tulyavarṇāḥ samaramukheṣv asakṛd gadāsibhinnāḥ |

aham aham iti yuddhakauśalās te rajanīcarāḥ paribabhramur nadantaḥ ||

Translation

ഘനമേഘം, ഗജം, മഹിഷം എന്നിവയെപ്പോലെ ഇരുണ്ട വർണ്ണമുള്ളവർ; സമരമഖത്തിൽ പലവട്ടം ഗദയും ഖഡ്ഗവും കൊണ്ട് മുറിവേറ്റിട്ടും യുദ്ധകൗശലത്തിൽ നിപുണരായ ആ രജനീചരർ ‘ഞാൻ, ഞാൻ’ എന്നു വിളിച്ചുഗർജ്ജിച്ച് അലഞ്ഞുനടന്നു.

Word by Word

• घनगजमहिषाङ्गतुल्यवर्णाः: of color like clouds, elephants, and buffaloes
• घनगजमहिषाङ्गतुल्यवर्णाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghana + gaja + mahiṣa + aṅga + tulya + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक-समाहार)
• Form: Samāsa: (घन-गज-महिष-अङ्ग)-तुल्य-वर्ण (तत्पुरुष; 'having color like the limbs of clouds/elephants/buffaloes'); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with रजनीचराः

• समरमुखेषु: in the forefront of battle
• समरमुखेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samara + mukha (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (समरस्य मुखे), Neuter? actually mukha is neuter; Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• असकृत्: repeatedly
• असकृत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: asakṛt (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (पुनःपुनरर्थक-अव्यय)

• गदासिभिन्नाः: wounded by maces and swords
• गदासिभिन्नाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gadā + asi + bhinna (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound: gadā-asi (dvandva) + bhinna (PPP from bhid (धातु)); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Vākyārtha (उद्गार/उक्ति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Vākyārtha (उद्गार/उक्ति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); repetition for emphasis

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उक्ति-चिह्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय)

• युद्धकौशलाः: skilled in warfare
• युद्धकौशलाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yuddha + kauśala (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (युद्धे कौशलम्), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with रजनीचराः

• ते: those
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• रजनीचराः: night-rangers (Rakshasas)
• रजनीचराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rajanī + cara (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (रजनीं चरन्ति), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• परिबभ्रमुः: roamed about
• परिबभ्रमुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-bhram (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• नदन्तः: roaring
• नदन्तः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nad (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with रजनीचराः

Context

Khara's son spoke to the commander-in-chief of the army standing nearby 'Let the chariot be brought quickly and the army proceed'.

Characters & Entities

• Rakṣasas (rajanīcarāḥ)
• Swords (asi)
• Battlefront (samaramukha)

FAQs

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

The verse contrasts noisy ego-driven aggression with dharmic heroism; Dharma in war is disciplined courage for a just cause, not self-assertion (“aham”).

What is the narrative situation?

Rakṣasa fighters surge around the battlefield, wounded yet boastful, challenging for combat as they close in on Rāma’s side.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Skill and endurance are present, but the verse spotlights the vice of ego (ahaṅkāra) overpowering wisdom.