Shloka 34

मकराक्षवधः

The Slaying of Makarākṣa

Devanagari script

तमापतन्तंज्वलितंखरपुत्रकराच्च्युतम् ।।।।बाणैत्रिभिराकाशेशूलंचिच्छेदराघवः ।

Transliteration

tam āpatantaṁ jvalitaṁ kharaputra-karāc cyutam | bāṇais tribhir ākāśe śūlaṁ ciccheda rāghavaḥ ||

Translation

หอกเพลิงนั้นซึ่งพุ่งเข้ามา—หลุดจากมือบุตรแห่งคระ—พระราฆวะได้ผ่าเสียกลางอากาศด้วยศรสามดอก

Word by Word

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; refers to शूलम्

• आपतन्तम्: falling/coming down
• आपतन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā + pat (पत्, धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; qualifying शूलम्

• ज्वलितम्: burning
• ज्वलितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jval (ज्वल्, धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; qualifying शूलम्

• खरपुत्रकरात्: from Khara's son's hand
• खरपुत्रकरात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khara + putra + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (खरस्य पुत्रः तस्य करः), पुल्लिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; source (ablative)

• च्युतम्: released
• च्युतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cyu (च्यु, धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; qualifying शूलम्

• बाणैः: with arrows
• बाणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• त्रिभिः: with three
• त्रिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-विशेषण, पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; qualifying बाणैः

• आकाशे: in the sky
• आकाशे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ākāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• शूलम्: the pike
• शूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• चिच्छेद: cut asunder
• चिच्छेद: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: chid (छिद्, धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• राघवः: Raghava (Rama)
• राघवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Context

Raghava split with his three arrows the burning pike released from the hand of Khara's son while it was still flying in the sky.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava)
• śūla (pike)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is protective righteousness: Rāma uses measured, skillful force to neutralize a lethal threat, safeguarding the just cause and his allies without needless excess.

What is the narrative situation?

In the Lanka war, Khara’s son (Makarākṣa) hurls a flaming pike at Rāma; Rāma intercepts and splits it in the sky with three arrows.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Alertness and mastery (kauśala): Rāma’s swift, precise response demonstrates disciplined power guided by duty.