Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 92

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

ऐषीकंनिहतंदृष्टवारुषितोरावणात्मजः ।याम्येनार्स्तेणसङ्कृद्धोयोजयामाससायकम् ।।।।

Transliteration

aiṣīkaṃ nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā ruṣito rāvaṇātmajaḥ | yāmyenāstreṇa saṅkruddho yojayāmāsa sāyakam ||

Translation

Als Rāvaṇas Sohn das Aiṣīka-Geschoss vernichtet sah, geriet er in Zorn; voll Grimm belegte er seinen Pfeil mit der Yāmya-Waffe, die unter Yamas Herrschaft steht.

Word by Word

• aiṣīkam: Aiṣīka (name of a weapon/arrow)
• aiṣīkam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aiṣīka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• nihatam: destroyed/struck down
• nihatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni√han (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies aiṣīkam

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √dṛś (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकाल (prior action)

• ruṣitaḥ: angered
• ruṣitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ruṣita (प्रातिपदिक; from √ruṣ)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP used adjectivally), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agrees with rāvaṇātmajaḥ

• rāvaṇātmajaḥ: son of Rāvaṇa
• rāvaṇātmajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): rāvaṇasya ātmajaḥ; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• yāmyena: (with) Yama-related
• yāmyena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yāmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; qualifies astreṇa

• astreṇa: with a weapon (astra)
• astreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• saṅkṛddhaḥ: enraged
• saṅkṛddhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam√krudh (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; intensifies ruṣitaḥ

• yojayāmāsa: he fitted/aimed/charged
• yojayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yuj (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रयोजक (causative) + लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• sāyakam: arrow
• sāyakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Context

Then Atikaya seized with anger discharged Ishikam presided over by Twashta (the architect of gods). Saumithri then split the arrow with one presided by Indra and split Ishikam.

Characters & Entities

• Atikāya (as Rāvaṇātmaja in context)
• Rāvaṇa
• Yama

FAQs

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

It cautions that wounded pride and anger can drive escalation toward more lethal means; dharma calls for restraint and clarity even when one’s power is challenged.

What is the narrative situation?

After his prior missile is defeated, Atikāya prepares a more fearsome, Yama-associated astra by charging an arrow with it.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse emphasizes a negative trait to be avoided: krodha-driven escalation, which threatens righteous conduct in war.