Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 86

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

तदस्त्रंज्वलितंघोरंलक्ष्मणश्शरमाहितम् ।।।।अतिकायायचिक्षेपकालदण्डमिवान्तकः ।

Transliteration

tad astraṃ jvalitaṃ ghoraṃ lakṣmaṇaḥ śaram āhitam | atikāyāya cikṣepa kāladaṇḍam ivāntakaḥ ||

Translation

Lakṣmaṇa, nachdem er jenes schreckliche, flammende Astra auf den Pfeil gelegt hatte, schleuderte es gegen Atikāya – wie der Tod selbst den Stab der Zeit herabwirft.

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणं (qualifies astram)

• astram: missile/weapon
• astram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• jvalitam: blazing
• jvalitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jval (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणं (qualifies astram)

• ghoram: terrible
• ghoram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणं (qualifies astram)

• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Lakṣmaṇa
• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• śaram: arrow
• śaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; apposition/object with āhitam

• āhitam: placed/charged
• āhitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhā (धातु) + ā- (उपसर्ग) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘placed/charged’ (qualifies śaram/astram contextually)

• atikāyāya: towards Atikāya
• atikāyāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान) / target
• Type: Noun
• Root: atikāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन

• cikṣepa: threw
• cikṣepa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṣip (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• kāladaṇḍam: the staff of Time/Death
• kāladaṇḍam: Upameya (उपमेय) / object of comparison
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + daṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (kālasya daṇḍaḥ)

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

• antakaḥ: Death (Yama)
• antakaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमान (comparer)

Context

Lakshmana placed that fierce, glowing missile looking like the staff of God of death on Atikaya.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Atikāya
• Antaka (Death)

FAQs

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

It underscores righteous firmness in protecting one’s side in a just war: Lakṣmaṇa acts decisively against a powerful aggressor, reflecting duty-bound courage rather than personal cruelty.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa counters Atikāya by launching a fierce, blazing astra-charged arrow directly at him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vīrya (valor) and dhairya (steadfastness): Lakṣmaṇa’s fearless, disciplined response under threat.