Shloka 22

अतिकायवधश्रवणं रावणस्य लङ्कारक्षाविधानम्

Ravana’s Reaction to Atikaya’s Death and the Fortification Orders for Lanka

Devanagari script

अतिकायंहतंश्रुत्वालक्ष्मणेनमहौजसा ।उद्वेगमगमद्राजावचनंचेदमब्रवीत् ।।6.72.1।।

Transliteration

atikāyaṁ hataṁ śrutvā lakṣmaṇena mahaujasā | udvegam agamad rājā vacanaṁ cedam abravīt ||

Translation

Als der König hörte, dass Atikāya von dem machtvollen Lakṣmaṇa erschlagen worden war, ergriff ihn Unruhe, und er sprach diese Worte.

Word by Word

• अतिकायम्: Atikaya
• अतिकायम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: atikāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• हतम्: slain
• हतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (धातु)
• Form: क्त-भूतकृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त

• लक्ष्मणेन: by Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मणेन: Karaṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन

• महौजसा: by the powerful
• महौजसा: Karaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + ojas (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: कर्मधारय; तृतीया, एकवचन

• उद्वेगम्: distress
• उद्वेगम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: udvega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अगमत्: was overtaken by
• अगमत्: Kriyā
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: लङ्; 3rd sg

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वचनम्: speech
• वचनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: conjunction

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriyā
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ्; 3rd sg

Context

On hearing that Atikaya was killed by highly energetic Lakshmana, the king was overtaken by emotion and spoke as follows.

Characters & Entities

• Atikāya
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Actions bring consequences: when a ruler pursues adharma and war, he must face the sorrowful results—loss, fear, and public instability—reflected here in the king’s agitation.

What is the narrative situation?

News reaches the king of Laṅkā that Atikāya has been slain by Lakṣmaṇa, prompting the king to react emotionally and begin speaking.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s vīrya (heroic prowess) and steadfastness in righteous combat are highlighted through the report of his victory.