Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 71

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

तमादायधनुश्श्रेष्ठेयोजयामासलक्ष्मणः ।।।।विचकर्ष च वेगेनविससर्ज च वीर्यवान् ।

Transliteration

tam ādāya dhanuḥ śreṣṭhe yojayāmāsa lakṣmaṇaḥ | vicakarṣa ca vegena visasarja ca vīryavān ||

Translation

Taking that arrow, valiant Lakṣmaṇa set it to his excellent bow, drew it back with speed, and released it.

Word by Word

• tam: that (arrow)
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; refers to bāṇam (arrow) from prior verse

• ādāya: having taken
• ādāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√dā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्): "having taken"

• dhanuḥ-śreṣṭhe: on the excellent bow
• dhanuḥ-śreṣṭhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Saptamī Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: dhanūṃṣi śreṣṭham (best among bows) / "on the excellent bow"

• yojayāmāsa: set/placed (the arrow)
• yojayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yuj (धातु)
• Form: Causative (णिच्) + Liṭ-lakāra (perfect), Prathama-puruṣa Ekavacana, parasmaipada; "caused to be joined/set"

• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Lakṣmaṇa
• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

• vicakarṣa: drew back (the bowstring)
• vicakarṣa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√kṛṣ (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (perfect), Prathama-puruṣa Ekavacana, parasmaipada

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya-dyotaka (समुच्चय-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• vegena: with speed
• vegena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā Ekavacana; adverbial instrumental

• visasarja: released/shot
• visasarja: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√sṛj (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (perfect), Prathama-puruṣa Ekavacana, parasmaipada

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya-dyotaka (समुच्चय-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• vīryavān: valiant
• vīryavān: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīryavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; adjective of lakṣmaṇaḥ

Context

Valiant Lakshmana, foremost of the wielders of bow stretching his bow till the ear, quickly discharged the arrow.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Right action at the right time: dharma is not only intention but timely execution—acting decisively when protection and justice require it.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa sets a chosen arrow on his bow, draws fully, and shoots to strike his opponent.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Niścaya (firm resolve) expressed through swift, competent action.