Shloka 27

मकराक्षवधः

The Slaying of Makarākṣa

Devanagari script

राममुक्तांस्तुबाणौघान् राक्षसस्त्वच्छिनद्रणे ।रक्षोमुक्तांस्तुरामोवैनैकथाप्राच्छिनच्छरैः ।।।।

Transliteration

rāmamuktāṃs tu bāṇaughān rākṣasas tv acchinad raṇe | rakṣomuktāṃs tu rāmo vai naikathā prācchinac charaiḥ ||

Translation

جنگ کے ٹکراؤ میں راکشس نے رام کے چھوڑے ہوئے تیروں کی بارش کو کاٹ ڈالا؛ اور رام نے بھی راکشس کے چھوڑے ہوئے ہتھیار نما تیروں کو اپنے شروں سے طرح طرح سے چکناچور کر دیا۔

Word by Word

• rāma-muktān: released by Rama
• rāma-muktān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक) + mukta (कृदन्त from muc)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ‘released by Rāma’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Plural (बहुवचन); qualifies bāṇaughān

• tu: but/then
• tu: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• bāṇaughān: volleys of arrows
• bāṇaughān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa-ogha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Plural (बहुवचन)

• rākṣasaḥ: the rākṣasa
• rākṣasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन)

• tu: indeed/then
• tu: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• acchinat: cut/split
• acchinat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: chid (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्) imperfect/past, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• raṇe: in battle
• raṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी) Singular (एकवचन)

• rakṣaḥ-muktān: released by the rākṣasa
• rakṣaḥ-muktān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक) + mukta (कृदन्त from muc)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ‘released by the rākṣasa’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Plural (बहुवचन); object of prācchinat

• tu: but/then
• tu: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन)

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

• na-ekadhā: into many pieces
• na-ekadhā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na + ekadhā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकार-अव्यय) ‘in many ways/pieces’

• prācchinat: shattered/cut up
• prācchinat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-chid (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्) imperfect/past, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• śaraiḥ: with arrows
• śaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया) Plural (बहुवचन)

Context

In the comb at Rakshasa split the arrows released by Rama and Rakshasa shattered the arrows released by Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Rākṣasa (Makarākṣa in immediate context)

FAQs

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

Dharma in warfare includes skill governed by purpose: defense of the righteous cause rather than cruelty. The verse depicts disciplined martial reciprocity—meeting force with appropriate counterforce.

What is the narrative situation?

A high-level exchange of missile warfare: each side intercepts and destroys the other’s arrow volleys.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kauśala (martial proficiency) and dhairya (composure): Rāma’s controlled, effective response rather than panic.