Shloka 3

मकराक्षवधः

The Slaying of Makarākṣa

Devanagari script

वृक्षशूलनिपातैश्चशिलापरिघपातनैः ।अन्योन्यंमर्दयन्तिस्मतदाकपिनिशाचराः ।।।।

Transliteration

vṛkṣaśūlanipātaiś ca śilāparighapātanaiḥ | anyonyaṃ mardayanti sma tadā kapiniśācarāḥ ||

Translation

اس وقت بندر اور نشاچر راکشس ایک دوسرے کو روندتے اور کچلتے تھے—درخت اور شُول گرا کر، اور چٹانیں اور پریگھ (گُرز) ایک دوسرے پر دے مارتے تھے۔

Word by Word

• वृक्षशूलनिपातैः: with the hurling of trees and pikes
• वृक्षशूलनिपातैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛkṣa + śūla + nipāta (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: Compound expressing means: vṛkṣa-śūla (dvandva) + nipāta; Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• शिलापरिघपातनैः: with the throwing down of rocks and clubs
• शिलापरिघपातनैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śilā + parigha + pātana (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: śilā-parigha (dvandva) + pātana; Neuter? pātana is neuter; Instrumental, Plural

• अन्योन्यम्: one another
• अन्योन्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anyonya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Indeclinable-like accusative used adverbially; Accusative (2nd), Singular (एकवचन)

• मर्दयन्ति: they crush/strike
• मर्दयन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: mṛd (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person, Plural, Parasmaipada

• स्म: indeed/then (past marker)
• स्म: Kriyānuṣaṅga (क्रियानुषङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle indicating past narration with present (स्म-प्रयोग)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Temporal adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• कपिनिशाचराः: monkeys and Rakshasas
• कपिनिशाचराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapi + niśācara (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: Dvandva (कपयः च निशाचराः च), Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Context

Then monkeys as well as Rakshasas fought hurling trees and pikes and bringing down rocks and clubs physically hurting each other.

Characters & Entities

• Vānaras (monkeys)
• Trees
• Rocks (śilā)

FAQs

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

The verse portrays collective struggle where dharma is defended by many, not only heroes. It also implies that force, when used, should be in service of protection and restoration of order rather than domination.

What is the narrative situation?

A broader battlefield tableau: vānara and rākṣasa troops fight with improvised and heavy weapons.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sāhasa (boldness) and loyalty—vānara forces persist in dangerous close combat for Rāma’s cause.