Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 78, Shloka 14

मकराक्षस्य निर्गमनम्

The Deployment of Makaraksha and Ravana’s Fury

Devanagari script

तेकामरूपिणस्सरेदंष्ट्रिणःपिङ्गलेक्षणा ।मातङ्गाइवनर्दन्तोध्वस्तकेशाभयावहाः ।।।।परिवार्यमहाकायामहाकायंखरात्मजम् ।अभिजघ्नुस्ततोहृष्टाश्चालयन्तोवसुन्धराम् ।।।।

Transliteration

te kāmarūpiṇaḥ krūrā daṃṣṭriṇaḥ piṅgalekṣaṇāḥ | mātaṅgā iva nardanto dhvastakeśā bhayāvahāḥ | parivārya mahākāyā mahākāyaṃ kharātmajam | abhijaghnus tato hṛṣṭāś cālayanto vasundharām ||

Translation

Ang mga Rākṣasang yaon—malulupit, nag-iiba-iba ng anyo, may nakausling pangil at mapupulang-dilaw na mga mata—ay umuungal na parang mga elepante; gusot ang buhok at nakapangingilabot ang anyo. Pinaligiran nila ang dambuhalang anak ni Khara; at saka, nagagalak, sila’y sumugod, yumanig ang lupa sa kanilang paglakad.

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन

• कामरूपिणः: shape-shifting at will
• कामरूपिणः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कामरूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक: काम + रूपिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कामेन रूपं यस्य/यः) ‘at-will form-changing’

• सरेदंष्ट्रिणः: with fearsome fangs
• सरेदंष्ट्रिणः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सरेदंष्ट्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक: स + रेदंष्ट्रिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (रेदंष्ट्राः सन्ति येषाम्) ‘having protruding/terrible fangs’

• पिङ्गलेक्षणाः: yellow-eyed
• पिङ्गलेक्षणाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिङ्गलेक्षण (प्रातिपदिक: पिङ्गल + ईक्षण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (पिङ्गले ईक्षणे यस्य) ‘yellow/brown-eyed’

• मातङ्गाः: elephants
• मातङ्गाः: Upamana (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन

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

• नर्दन्तः: roaring
• नर्दन्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Agent participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नर्द् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्यय (Present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; ‘roaring’

• ध्वस्तकेशाः: dishevelled-haired
• ध्वस्तकेशाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्वस्तकेश (प्रातिपदिक: ध्वस्त + केश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (ध्वस्ताः केशाः येषाम्) ‘with dishevelled hair’

• भयावहाः: terrifying
• भयावहाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भयावह (प्रातिपदिक: भय + आवह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (भयं आवहन्ति) ‘bringing fear’

Context

Those who could change their form at will, cruel, with protruding teeth, yellow eyes, dishevelled hair, of frightful appearance, huge like elephants surrounding the son of Khara went joyously forward shaking the earth.

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasas (Niśācarāḥ)
• Makarākṣa
• Khara
• Earth (Vasundharā)
• Elephants (mātaṅga) (simile)

FAQs

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

The verse depicts adharma’s aesthetic: cruelty, terror, and delight in intimidation. Dharma, by contrast, is associated with inner order—self-restraint, truthfulness, and protection rather than fear-making.

What is the narrative situation?

Rākṣasa troops gather around Makarākṣa and march out in force, described with frightening physical and acoustic imagery.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The implied virtue for the dharmic side is fearlessness rooted in righteousness: standing firm when confronted by intimidation and overwhelming spectacle.