Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 78, Shloka 5

मकराक्षस्य निर्गमनम्

The Deployment of Makaraksha and Ravana’s Fury

Devanagari script

सोऽभिवाद्यदशग्रीवंकृत्वाचापिप्रदक्षिणम् ।निर्जगामगृहाच्छुभ्राद्रावणस्याज्ञयाबली ।।।।

Transliteration

so 'bhivādya daśagrīvaṃ kṛtvā cāpi pradakṣiṇam |

nirjagāma gṛhāc chubhrād rāvaṇasyājñayā balī ||

Translation

پس اُس نے دَشگریو (راون) کو سجدۂ تعظیم کیا اور آداب کے ساتھ اس کی پرَدَکشنہ (طواف) بھی کی؛ پھر راون کے حکم کے تابع، وہ زورآور یودھا اُس کے روشن محل سے باہر نکل گیا۔

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• abhivādya: having saluted
• abhivādya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√vad (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष)

• daśagrīvam: the ten-headed (Ravana)
• daśagrīvam: Karma (कर्म) (object of abhivādya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa + grīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; bahuvrīhi epithet 'one who has ten necks/heads' (Ravana)

• kṛtvā: having done
• kṛtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (समुच्चय/अपि = also/even)

• pradakṣiṇam: circumambulation
• pradakṣiṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; object of kṛtvā

• nirjagāma: went out
• nirjagāma: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-√gam (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्) Perfect, Parasmaipada; 3rd person, Singular

• gṛhāt: from the house
• gṛhāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• śubhrāt: bright/white (splendid)
• śubhrāt: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubhra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular; qualifies gṛhāt

• rāvaṇasya: of Ravana
• rāvaṇasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• ājñayā: by the command
• ājñayā: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण) (by order)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ājñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• balī: mighty
• balī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: balin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifies saḥ (Makarākṣa)

Context

The Rakshasa king was overtaken by both anger and sorrow, bewildered excessively sent for broadeyed Makara, the son of Khara.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa (Daśagrīva)
• Makarākṣa

FAQs

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

Ritual propriety and respect for authority are shown, but the epic invites reflection: outward forms cannot substitute for righteous intent (dharma-sāra).

What is the narrative situation?

Makarākṣa completes formal courtesies to Rāvaṇa and departs to execute the battle-order.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discipline in courtly conduct and readiness to serve one’s king—though ethically misdirected in service of adharma.