Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 79, Shloka 20

मकराक्षवधः

The Slaying of Makarākṣa

Devanagari script

स्वाशितास्तवमांसेनगृध्रगोमायुवायसाः ।भविष्यन्त्यद्यवैपाप तीक्ष्णतुण्डनखाङ्कुराः ।।।।

Transliteration

svāśitās tava māṃsena gṛdhra-gomāyu-vāyasāḥ |

bhaviṣyanty adya vai pāpa tīkṣṇa-tuṇḍa-nakhāṅkurāḥ ||

Translation

Tunay nga, ngayong araw, O makasalanan, ang mga buwitre, asong-gubat, at uwak—matutulis ang tuka at kuko—ay mabubusog sa iyong laman.

Word by Word

• svāśitāḥ: fully fed/satiated
• svāśitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-śad (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग) Nominative (प्रथमा) Plural (बहुवचन); with prefix su-/sv- indicating ‘well/fully’ (intensified sense)

• tava: of you/your
• tava: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (षष्ठी) Singular (एकवचन)

• māṃsena: with flesh
• māṃsena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māṃsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया) Singular (एकवचन)

• gṛdhra-gomāyu-vāyasāḥ: vultures, jackals, and crows
• gṛdhra-gomāyu-vāyasāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛdhra (प्रातिपदिक) + gomāyu (प्रातिपदिक) + vāyasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व) ‘vultures, jackals, and crows’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Plural (बहुवचन)

• bhaviṣyanti: will become/will be
• bhaviṣyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (लुट्) / simple future, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• adya: today
• adya: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (काल-अव्यय)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Emphasis (बल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय)

• pāpa: O sinner/wretch
• pāpa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन) Singular (एकवचन)

• tīkṣṇa-tuṇḍa-nakha-aṅkurāḥ: with sharp beaks and claw-tips
• tīkṣṇa-tuṇḍa-nakha-aṅkurāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tīkṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + tuṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + nakha (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅkura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (कर्मधारय/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष sense) adjective ‘having sharp beaks and claw-tips’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Plural (बहुवचन); qualifies gṛdhra-gomāyu-vāyasāḥ

Context

"O Sinner! Today vultures, jackals and crows with sharp beaks and goads like claws will also be satiated with your flesh."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Makarākṣa
• vultures (gṛdhra)
• jackals (gomāyu)

FAQs

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

The verse conveys the moral certainty of consequence: persistent adharma leads to ruin; violent intent returns as violent end.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma issues a grim battlefield warning to Makarākṣa immediately before the exchange of arrows intensifies.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fearless resolve in righteous combat—speaking plainly about the outcome of wrongdoing.