Shloka 9

मकराक्षवधः

The Slaying of Makarākṣa

Devanagari script

रितान्राक्षसान्दृष्टवामकराक्षोनिशाचरः ।क्रोधानलसमाविष्टोवचनंचेदमब्रवीत् ।।।।

Transliteration

vāritān rākṣasān dṛṣṭvā makarākṣo niśācaraḥ | krodhānalasamāviṣṭo vacanaṃ cedam abravīt ||

Translation

جب مکرाक्ष، وہ شب گرد راکشس، نے دیکھا کہ راکشس روک دیے گئے ہیں تو وہ غضب کی آگ میں جل اٹھا اور یہ کلمات کہنے لگا۔

Word by Word

• ritān: intercepted/checked
• ritān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• rākṣasān: Rakshasas
• rākṣasān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive)

• makarākṣaḥ: Makaraksha
• makarākṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: makara + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; नाम (proper noun)

• niśācaraḥ: night-ranger (rakshasa)
• niśācaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśā + cara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (night-wanderer)

• krodha-anala-samāviṣṭaḥ: possessed by the fire of anger
• krodha-anala-samāviṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krodha + anala + samāviṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासार्थः: क्रोधरूप-अनलेन सम्यगाविष्टः

• vacanam: speech/words
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• abravīt: said/spoke
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

Seeing the intercepted Rakshasas, the night ranger Maka raksha was overtaken by fire of anger spoke these words.

Characters & Entities

• Makarākṣa
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how anger clouds judgment; Dharma requires self-mastery, whereas wrath becomes a destructive ‘fire’ that drives reckless speech and action.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama’s arrows halt the rākṣasas; Makarākṣa notices this reversal and prepares to respond, speaking in anger.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast, the virtue implied is restraint (dama) and clarity—qualities absent in Makarākṣa’s anger-driven reaction.