Shloka 17

मकराक्षवधः

The Slaying of Makarākṣa

Devanagari script

मकराक्ष्वचश्श्रुत्वारामोदशरथात्मजः ।अब्रवीत्प्रहसन्वाक्यमुत्तरोत्तरवादिनम् ।।।।

Transliteration

makarākṣavacaḥ śrutvā rāmo daśarathātmajaḥ |

abravīt prahasan vākyam uttarottaravādinam ||

Translation

听罢摩迦罗刹之言，达沙罗陀之子罗摩含笑开口，答复那位言辞愈发激烈的对手。

Word by Word

• makarākṣa-vacaḥ: Makaraksha's words
• makarākṣa-vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: makarākṣa + vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासार्थः: मकराक्षस्य वचः

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund)

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• daśaratha-ātmajaḥ: son of Dasharatha
• daśaratha-ātmajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासार्थः: दशरथस्य आत्मजः (son)

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

• prahasan: laughing
• prahasan: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: has (धातु)
• Form: प्र-उपसर्ग + शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणभावे

• vākyam: a statement
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• uttarottara-vādinam: one who keeps speaking back repeatedly
• uttarottara-vādinam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttara + uttara + vādin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासार्थः: उत्तरोत्तरं वदन्तम् (speaking repeatedly/answering again and again)

Context

"Rakshasa! Why so much of wasteful talk about What you can't accomplish? Victory is not possible on the battlefield with your force of speech"

Characters & Entities

• Makarākṣa
• Rāma
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as composure: a righteous warrior is not destabilized by provocation and answers with clarity rather than anger.

What is the narrative situation?

After being challenged, Rāma responds calmly, even with a smile, to Makarākṣa’s repeated taunts.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-mastery (śama) and measured speech—strength without loss of inner balance.