Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 108

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

तंप्रेक्षमाणस्सहसाऽतिकायोजघानबाणैर्निशितैरनेकैः ।स सायकस्तस्यसुपर्णवेगस्तदातिकायस्यजगामपार्श्वम् ।।।।

Transliteration

taṁ prekṣamāṇaḥ sahasā ’tikāyo jaghāna bāṇair niśitair anekaiḥ |

sa sāyakas tasya suparṇa-vegas tadā ’tikāyasya jagāma pārśvam ||

Translation

As Atikāya watched, Lakṣmaṇa suddenly struck him with many keen arrows. One shaft, swift as Garuḍa, sped on and reached Atikāya’s side.

Word by Word

• tam: him/that one
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (neuter)/Masculine usage possible; Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• prekṣamāṇaḥ: while looking at
• prekṣamāṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √īkṣ (धातु) + pra- (उपसर्ग) (वर्तमानकृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/वर्तमानकृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agreeing with subject

• sahasā: suddenly
• sahasā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasā (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• atikāyaḥ: Atikaya
• atikāyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: atikāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• jaghāna: struck
• jaghāna: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• bāṇaiḥ: with arrows
• bāṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• niśitaiḥ: sharp
• niśitaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niśita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; qualifying bāṇaiḥ

• anekaiḥ: many
• anekaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aneka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; qualifying bāṇaiḥ

• saḥ: that/he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• sāyakaḥ: arrow
• sāyakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; apposition to saḥ

• tasya: of him/of that
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• suparṇavegaḥ: having Garuḍa-like speed
• suparṇavegaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: suparṇa + vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: suparṇasya vegaḥ; qualifying sāyakaḥ

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; temporal adverb (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

• atikāyasya: of Atikaya
• atikāyasya: Adhikaraṇa/Goal relation (सम्बन्ध; गन्तव्य-संबन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: atikāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• jagāma: went/reached
• jagāma: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• pārśvam: side/flank
• pārśvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (neuter), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; goal/object of motion

Context

As Atikaya was looking at the arrow, Lakshmana struck many arrows forcibly with sharp arrows possessing the speed of Garuda. The arrows reached towards Atikaya.

Characters & Entities

• Atikāya
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Garuḍa (Suparṇa)

FAQs

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

It reflects kṣatra-dharma: resolute action against an aggressor in a righteous war, using skill and decisive force without hesitation.

What is the narrative situation?

In the battle, Lakṣmaṇa launches a rapid barrage; a notably swift arrow closes in on Atikāya’s flank.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s valor and martial precision—swift, controlled, purpose-driven force in service of Rama’s cause.