Shloka 23

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 vernahm, dass Atikāya von dem mächtigen Lakṣmaṇa erschlagen worden war, wurde er von Unruhe ergriffen und sprach diese Worte.

Word by Word

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

• हतम्: slain
• हतम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (धातु)
• Form: क्त; 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?

A leader’s unrighteous course destabilizes both self and kingdom; inner agitation is a symptom of failing dharma and accumulating harm.

What is the narrative situation?

The king receives confirmation of Atikāya’s death at Lakṣmaṇa’s hands and prepares to address those around him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s courage and effectiveness in protecting the righteous cause (Rāma’s mission) are underscored.