Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 72

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

पूर्णायतविसृषेनशरेणनतपर्वणा ।।।।ललाटेराक्षसश्रेष्ठमाजघान स वीर्यवान् ।

Transliteration

pūrṇāyatavisṛṣena śareṇa nataparvaṇā | lalāṭe rākṣasaśreṣṭham ājaghāna sa vīryavān ||

Translation

وبسهمٍ أُطلق عن قوسٍ مشدودٍ إلى أقصاه، وقد انحنت عُقَدُه على هيئة القوس، ضرب البطلُ سيّدَ الرَّاكْشَسَة في جبهته.

Word by Word

• pūrṇa-āyata-visṛṣena: with a fully-drawn and released (arrow)
• pūrṇa-āyata-visṛṣena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + āyata (प्रातिपदिक) + visṛṣṭa (कृदन्त, √sṛj धातु)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine/Neuter agreement with śara (implicit); visṛṣṭa = past passive participle (क्त) of √sṛj; compound sense: 'fully-stretched-and-released'

• śareṇa: with an arrow
• śareṇa: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• nata-parvaṇā: with (its) joints bent/curved
• nata-parvaṇā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nata (कृदन्त, √nam धातु) + parvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine/Neuter agreement with śara; nata = past passive participle (क्त) of √nam; parvan = 'joint/segment' (of arrow)

• lalāṭe: on the forehead
• lalāṭe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lalāṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• rākṣasa-śreṣṭham: the foremost rākṣasa
• rākṣasa-śreṣṭham: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'best among the rākṣasas'

• ājaghāna: struck
• ājaghāna: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (धातु) with ā- prefix
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Kartā (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun

• vīryavān: valiant
• vīryavān: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīrya-vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

The heroic Lakshmana fully stretching the arrow bending to curvature struck Atikaya, the foremost of Rakshasas on his forehead.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Atikāya

FAQs

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

Firmness in confronting adharma: when a destructive aggressor must be checked, dharma permits decisive force used with skill rather than cruelty.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa’s fully drawn arrow hits Atikāya squarely on the forehead.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Śaurya (bravery) guided by precision—strength aligned with purpose.