Shloka 12

मकराक्षस्य निर्गमनम्

The Deployment of Makaraksha and Ravana’s Fury

Devanagari script

अद्यशूलनिपातैश्चवानराणांमहाचमूम् ।प्रदहिष्यामिसम्प्राप्तांशुष्केन्धनमिवानलः ।।।।

Transliteration

adya śūla-nipātaiś ca vānarāṇāṃ mahā-camūm | pradahiṣyāmi samprāptāṃ śuṣkendhanam ivānalaḥ ||

Translation

วันนี้ด้วยห่าฝนแห่งหอก ข้าจะเผาผลาญกองทัพวานรอันใหญ่หลวงที่กำลังรุกเข้ามา ดุจไฟเผาผลาญเชื้อเพลิงแห้งฉะนั้น

Word by Word

• अद्य: today/now
• अद्य: Kala (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• शूलनिपातैः: with spear-strikes
• शूलनिपातैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूलनिपात (प्रातिपदिक: शूल + निपात)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (Instrumental) बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शूलैः निपाताः/प्रहाराः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वानराणाम्: of the vanaras
• वानराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (Genitive) बहुवचन

• महाचमूम्: the great army
• महाचमूम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाचमू (प्रातिपदिक: महा + चमू)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (Accusative) एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महती चमूः)

• प्रदहिष्यामि: I will burn up
• प्रदहिष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+दह् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple future); उत्तमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सम्प्राप्ताम्: assembled/arrived
• सम्प्राप्ताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्+प्र+आप् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषणम् महाचमूम्; ‘having arrived/assembled’

• शुष्केन्धनम्: dry fuel/wood
• शुष्केन्धनम्: Upamana (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुष्केन्धन (प्रातिपदिक: शुष्क + इन्धन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (शुष्कम् इन्धनम्)

• इव: like
• इव: Upama-sambandha (उपमा/Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• अनलः: fire
• अनलः: Upameya/Karta (उपमेय/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन

Context

"Going there now, I will terminate the great Vanara army with these pikes just as drywood is burnt by fire."

Characters & Entities

• Makarākṣa
• Vānara army
• Śūla (pike/trident-like spear)

FAQs

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

The comparison of living armies to ‘dry fuel’ underscores dehumanization, a hallmark of adharma. Dharma-centered warfare in epic ethics requires recognizing opponents as moral agents, not mere material to be consumed.

What is the narrative situation?

Makarākṣa continues his declaration of intent, describing how he will annihilate the approaching Vānara troops.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The dharmic counter-virtue is compassion (dayā) even amid conflict—strength should not slide into cruelty and contempt.