Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 82

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

अतिकायेनसौमित्रिस्ताडितोयुधिवक्षसि ।।।।सुस्रावरुधिरंतीव्रंमदंमत्तइवद्विपः ।

Transliteration

atikāyena saumitris tāḍito yudhi vakṣasi | susrāva rudhiraṃ tīvraṃ madaṃ matta iva dvipaḥ ||

Translation

Struck on the chest in battle by Atikāya, Saumitri’s blood flowed swiftly and fiercely—like the ichor of a rutting elephant.

Word by Word

• atikāyena: by Atikāya
• atikāyena: Kartṛ (कर्ता) / Agent (कर्तृ-कारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: atikāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन; agent in passive construction

• saumitriḥ: Saumitrī (Lakṣmaṇa)
• saumitriḥ: Karma (कर्म) / Patient in passive (कर्म-कारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saumitri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• tāḍitaḥ: struck
• tāḍitaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tāḍ (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; passive sense

• yudhi: in battle
• yudhi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yudh (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; सप्तमी-अर्थे (locative sense)

• vakṣasi: on the chest
• vakṣasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• susrāva: flowed forth
• susrāva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sru (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• rudhiram: blood
• rudhiram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudhira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• tīvram: violent, intense
• tīvram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tīvra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणं (qualifies rudhiram)

• madam: rut-fluid (ichor)
• madam: Upamāna/Upameya relation (उपमा-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपमान-रूपेण (as the compared substance)

• mattaḥ: in rut, intoxicated
• mattaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: matta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणं (qualifies dvipaḥ)

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

• dvipaḥ: an elephant
• dvipaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमान (standard of comparison)

Context

In the battle, Saumithri was hurt in the chest by Atikaya's arrow and blood flowed like the ichor from elephant in rut.

Characters & Entities

• Atikāya
• Lakṣmaṇa (Saumitri)
• elephant (dvipa)

FAQs

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

The cost of protecting Satya: the righteous may bleed, yet they do not abandon duty; suffering becomes part of steadfast Dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa is visibly wounded; the verse describes the severity through a simile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fortitude (titikṣā)—the capacity to endure pain while remaining committed to the righteous cause.