Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 107

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

तंलक्ष्मणोत्सृष्टममोघवेगंसमापतन्तंज्यलनप्रकाशम् ।सुपर्णवज्रोत्तमचित्रपुङ्खंतदाऽतिकायस्समरेददर्श ।।।।

Transliteration

taṁ lakṣmaṇotsṛṣṭam amoghavegaṁ samāpatantaṁ jvalanaprakāśam |

suparṇavajrōttamacitrapuṅkhaṁ tadā ’tikāyaḥ samare dadarśa ||

Translation

Then Atikāya, on the battlefield, saw that arrow released by Lakṣmaṇa—unerring in speed, rushing straight at him, blazing like fire, and fitted with splendid, variegated feathers like Garuḍa’s wings.

Word by Word

• तम्: that (arrow)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• लक्ष्मणोत्सृष्टम्: released by Lakṣmaṇa
• लक्ष्मणोत्सृष्टम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लक्ष्मण + उत्सृष्ट (कृदन्त; उत् + √सृज् धातु)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुष (lakṣmaṇa-utsṛṣṭa = 'released by Lakṣmaṇa'); भूतकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तम् इति विशेषणम्

• अमोघवेगम्: of unfailing speed
• अमोघवेगम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमोघ + वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः कर्मधारय; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तम् इति विशेषणम्

• समापतन्तम्: rushing/coming swiftly
• समापतन्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + आ + √पत् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तम् इति विशेषणम्

• ज्वलनप्रकाशम्: shining like fire
• ज्वलनप्रकाशम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वलन + प्रकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुष (jvalana-prakāśa = 'fire-like in brilliance'); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तम् इति विशेषणम्

• सुपर्णवज्रोत्तमचित्रपुङ्खम्: with splendid, variegated feathers like Suparṇa (Garuḍa) / thunderbolt-like
• सुपर्णवज्रोत्तमचित्रपुङ्खम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुपर्ण + वज्र + उत्तम + चित्र + पुङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-समास (determinative chain; 'having excellent, variegated feathers like Garuḍa’s wings/like thunderbolt'); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तम् इति विशेषणम्

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (then)

• अतिकायः: Atikāya
• अतिकायः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिकाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

Atikaya saw the arrow of Lakshmana coming at a speed, which possessed the velocity of the wind, fixed with feathers resembling the wings of Garuda in the battle.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Atikāya
• Garuḍa

FAQs

How does this verse connect to Dharma in the Yuddhakāṇḍa?

It frames Lakṣmaṇa’s action within righteous warfare (dharma-yuddha): a focused, decisive strike against an adharma-aligned aggressor, emphasizing duty-bound protection rather than cruelty.

Where is Satya (truth) reflected in this verse?

Satya appears as factual clarity and reliability: the arrow is described as “amogha-vega” (unfailing), underscoring steadfast purpose and the truthful, unwavering resolve of the dharmic side in battle.