Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 53

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

सुखप्रसुप्तंकालाग्निंविबोधयितुमिच्छसि ।न्यस्यचापंनिवर्तस्वमाप्राणान् जहिमद्गतः ।।।।

Transliteration

sukhaprasuptaṃ kālāgniṃ vibodhayitum icchasi | nyasya cāpaṃ nivartasva mā prāṇān jahi madgataḥ ||

Translation

Willst du das Feuer der Auflösung wecken, das in sanfter Ruhe schläft? Lege den Bogen nieder und kehre um — verliere nicht dein Leben, indem du mir entgegentrittst.

Word by Word

• sukha-prasuptam: comfortably asleep
• sukha-prasuptam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक) + prasupta (कृदन्त, √svap धातु)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमासः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; prasupta = भूतकृदन्त (PPP)

• kālāgnim: the fire of dissolution (time-fire)
• kālāgnim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कालयः अग्निः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• vibodhayitum: to awaken
• vibodhayitum: Prayojana (प्रयोजनम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √budh (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्यय (causative) + तुमुन् (infinitive); अर्थः = प्रबोधयितुम् (to awaken/arouse)

• icchasi: you wish
• icchasi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √iṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• nyasya: having laid aside
• nyasya: Purvakala (पूर्वकालः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु) with नि-उपसर्ग; gerund from √as/√nyas (धातु-समूह)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), अर्थः = निक्षिप्य (having laid down)

• cāpam: bow
• cāpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• nivartasva: turn back/withdraw
• nivartasva: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛt (धातु) with नि-उपसर्ग
• Form: लोट् (imperative), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• mā: do not
• mā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mā (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (prohibitive particle used with imperative)

• prāṇān: life-breaths / life
• prāṇān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• jahi: lose/destroy (here: do not lose)
• jahi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• mad-gataḥ: having come against me / confronting me
• mad-gataḥ: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + gata (कृदन्त, √gam धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (मद्-गतम् = मयि/माम् प्रति गतः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; gata = भूतकृदन्त (PPP)

Context

"Why do you want to arouse the fire of dissolution sleeping comfortably? Return, casting away your bow, without confronting. Go away."

Characters & Entities

• Atikāya
• Lakṣmaṇa
• kālāgni (fire of dissolution)
• bow

FAQs

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

The verse frames violence as inevitable if provoked, but dharma would instead counsel restraint and truthful assessment; threatening rhetoric shows how adharma uses fear to deter rightful action.

What is the narrative situation?

Atikāya continues to warn and threaten Lakṣmaṇa, urging retreat and surrender of the bow.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s steadfastness is implied: a dharmic warrior does not abandon duty due to intimidation.