Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 88

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

तावुभावम्बरेबाणावन्योन्यमभिजघ्नतुः ।।।।तेजसासंप्रदीप्ताग्रौक्रुद्धाविवभुजंगमौ ।

Transliteration

tāv ubhāv ambare bāṇāv anyonyam abhijaghnatuḥ | tejasā saṃpradīptāgrau kruddhāv iva bhujaṅgamau ||

Translation

عاليًا في السماء اصطدم السهمان أحدُهما بالآخر؛ وكانت رؤوسُهما متّقدةً بالضياء، كأنهما حيّتان غاضبتان تتصادمان.

Word by Word

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• ubhau: both
• ubhau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषणं (qualifies tau/bāṇau)

• ambare: in the sky
• ambare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambara (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• bāṇau: two arrows
• bāṇau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• anyonyam: each other
• anyonyam: Karma (कर्म) / reciprocal object
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyonya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; द्वितीया-अर्थे (reciprocal adverbial accusative)

• abhijaghnatuḥ: struck (each other)
• abhijaghnatuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु) + abhi- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

• tejasā: with brilliance
• tejasā: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण/हेतु (instrument/cause)

• saṃpradīptāgrau: with blazing tips
• saṃpradīptāgrau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃ+pra+dīp (धातु) + kta (क्त) + agra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (‘whose tips are fully blazing’)

• kruddhau: angry
• kruddhau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krudh (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past participle used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषणं

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा-वाचक

• bhujaṅgamau: two serpents
• bhujaṅgamau: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhujaṅgama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; उपमान

Context

Both the arrows effulgent, flaming with fire, were like angry serpents in the sky striking one another violently.

Characters & Entities

• sky (ambara)
• serpents (bhujaṅgama) (simile)

FAQs

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

The verse indirectly warns that anger (krodha) turns even disciplined power into destructive collision; dharma in battle requires restraint alongside strength.

What is the narrative situation?

The sun-charged and fire-charged arrows meet midair and collide violently.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not a virtue but a caution: the imagery foregrounds krodha (wrath) as a destabilizing force, even when power is great.