Shloka 39

मकराक्षवधः

The Slaying of Makarākṣa

Devanagari script

तेनास्त्रणहतंरक्षःकाकुत्थ्सेनतदारणे ।।।।सञ्चिन्नहृदयंतत्रपपात च ममार च ।

Transliteration

tenāstreṇa hataṁ rakṣaḥ kākutsthena tadā raṇe | sañchinna-hṛdayaṁ tatra papāta ca mamāra ca ||

Translation

ครั้นถูกราชศัสตรานั้นของกากุตสถะประหารในสมรภูมิ ยักษ์รากษสนั้นมีดวงหทัยแยกขาด ก็ล้มลง ณ ที่นั้น และสิ้นชีวิต

Word by Word

• tena: by him/thereby
• tena: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (pronoun), Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• astreṇa: by a weapon/missile
• astreṇa: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• hatam: killed/slain
• hatam: Karma (कर्म/Object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: han (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agrees with implied 'rakṣaḥ' in sense (killed)

• rakṣaḥ: the rākṣasa (demon)
• rakṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• kākutthsena: by Kakutstha's army
• kākutthsena: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kākutstha (प्रातिपदिक) + sena (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: kākutsthasya sena), Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time-context)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (कालवाचक)

• raṇe: in battle
• raṇe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• sañchinna-hṛdayam: with heart split open
• sañchinna-hṛdayam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sañchinna (छिद्-धातु + kta, कृदन्त) + hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (विशेषण-विशेष्य: sañchinnaṃ hṛdayaṃ yasya/tat), Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate/qualifier of rakṣaḥ

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (देशवाचक)

• papāta: fell
• papāta: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pat (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्/Aorist), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (समुच्चय)

• mamāra: died
• mamāra: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: mṛ (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्/Aorist), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (समुच्चय)

Context

Then struck in the battlefield by that missile of Kakuthsa, the Rakshasa fell down with his heart split open and died.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Kakutstha)
• Makarākṣa (the rākṣasa, by context)

FAQs

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

Adharma meets its consequence: when violent aggression persists, dharmic authority may employ decisive force to restore moral order and protect the vulnerable.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma releases the prepared missile; Makarākṣa is mortally struck, falls, and dies on the battlefield.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s righteous decisiveness—ending the threat swiftly once escalation becomes unavoidable.