Shloka 9

मकराक्षस्य निर्गमनम्

The Deployment of Makaraksha and Ravana’s Fury

Devanagari script

अथतान्राक्षसान्सर्वान्मकराक्षोऽब्रवीदिदम् ।यूयंसर्वेप्रयुध्यध्वंपुरस्तान्ममराक्षसाः ।।।।

Transliteration

atha tān rākṣasān sarvān makarākṣo 'bravīd idam |

yūyaṃ sarve prayudhyadhvaṃ purastān mama rākṣasāḥ ||

Translation

അപ്പോൾ മകരാക്ഷൻ ആ എല്ലാ രാക്ഷസരോടും പറഞ്ഞു: “എന്റെ രാക്ഷസരേ, നിങ്ങൾ എല്ലാവരും എന്റെ മുമ്പിൽ ചെന്നു യുദ്ധം ചെയ്യുക!”

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Discourse particle/adverb (अनन्तरार्थक)

• tān: those
• tān: Karma (कर्म) (those addressed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• rākṣasān: Rakshasas
• rākṣasān: Karma (कर्म) (those addressed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• sarvān: all
• sarvān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural; qualifies rākṣasān

• makarākṣaḥ: Makaraksha
• makarākṣaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: makara + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्) Aorist, Parasmaipada; 3rd person, Singular

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; object of abravīt

• yūyam: you (all)
• yūyam: Kartā (कर्ता) (subject of imperative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Nominative, Plural

• sarve: all
• sarve: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; qualifies yūyam/rākṣasāḥ

• prayudhyadhvam: fight
• prayudhyadhvam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√yudh (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (लोट्) Imperative, Ātmanepada; 2nd person, Plural

• purastāt: in front/ahead
• purastāt: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purastāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• mama: of me/my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Genitive, Singular

• rākṣasāḥ: O Rakshasas
• rākṣasāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन) / addressed group
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; vocative sense in address though form = nominative plural

Context

Thereafter, Maka raksha spoke to all Rakshasas, 'All of you be ahead of me and fight violently'.

Characters & Entities

• Makarākṣa
• rākṣasas (troops)

FAQs

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

The verse reflects command structure and collective duty in battle; orderly leadership is presented as essential to conduct (even when the cause itself may be adharma).

What is the narrative situation?

Makarākṣa rallies and positions his forces, ordering them to engage first.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Command and decisiveness in organizing troops.