Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 12

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

कोऽसौपर्वतसङ्काशोधनुष्मान्हरिलोचनः ।युक्तेहयसहस्रेणविशालेस्यन्दनेस्थितः ।।।।

Transliteration

ko 'sau parvatasaṅkāśo dhanuṣmān harilocanaḥ | yukte hayasahasreṇa viśāle syandane sthitaḥ ||

Translation

সেইজন কোন—পৰ্বতৰ দৰে দেহবিশিষ্ট, ধনুৰ্ধাৰী, হৰিলোচন (হালধীয়া চকুৰ) যোদ্ধা—যি হাজাৰ ঘোঁৰাৰে যোজিত বিশাল ৰথত অৱস্থিত?

Word by Word

• कः: who
• कः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• असौ: that (person)
• असौ: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (demonstrative pronoun); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पर्वत-सङ्काशः: resembling a mountain
• पर्वत-सङ्काशः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Adjectival to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्काश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (निर्धारण/उपमान-भाव); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• धनुष्मान्: bow-bearing
• धनुष्मान्: कर्ता-विशेषण (Adjectival to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• हरि-लोचनः: yellow-eyed
• हरि-लोचनः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Adjectival to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-भाव: ‘हरिणि लोचने यस्य’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• युक्ते: in (a chariot) yoked
• युक्ते: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘युक्त’ = harnessed/attached

• हय-सहस्रेण: by a thousand horses
• हय-सहस्रेण: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• विशाले: in the broad
• विशाले: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषण (स्यन्दने)

• स्यन्दने: chariot
• स्यन्दने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्यन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• स्थितः: seated/standing
• स्थितः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Adjectival to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘seated/standing’

Context

"Who is he, the yellow-eyed, resembling a mountain, seated in the broad chariot drawn by a thousand horses?"

Characters & Entities

• Atikāya (implied)
• chariot (syandana)
• bow (dhanuṣ)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is implicit: even amid fear and spectacle, warriors first seek truthful identification and clear understanding before action—disciplined perception preceding righteous response.

What is the narrative situation?

A formidable rākṣasa champion (Atikāya, implied by the surrounding sarga) is sighted arriving in a grand chariot; the vānara host reacts with astonishment and inquiry.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Alertness and strategic discernment—recognizing threats accurately rather than acting in confusion.